Abraham Shotwell, NYC, 1765-1858
Anyone have any information on the ancestors of Abraham Shotwell and Grace Boardman, who were married on 29 September 1793 in the Methodist Episcopal Church in New York City?Below is a great deal of information that I have collected over 50 years.
ABRAHAM SHOTWELL, HUSBAND OF GRACE BOARDMAN SHOTWELL
Stephen Ralph Boswell
5 November 2007
Abraham Shotwell, born on or about 9 October l765 (or 2 May 1765), in New Jersey, Died 6 May l858, at the age of 92, inNew York City
Will dated 4 October l856, and probated 3l July l858 (see pages 9 and 10).
Married Grace Boardman, 29 September l793, in the John Street Methodist Episcopal Church in New York City.
Had brother, Peter Shotwell (Only once, in the l796 Longworth Directory, this man is named, Peter Chadwell.In the l796 Low Directory, he is named Peter Shotwell).
Had brother, James Shotwell (In the l80l Longworth Directory, there is a James D. Chadwell, at 55 Church Street.It is not known at this time whether or not this was James Shotwell, brother of Abraham).
Had nephew, John Shotwell, the son of Peter (mentioned in the will)
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On The Internet there is a website for the Marble Cemetery in New York City.The cemetery is located on Second Street, between First and Second Avenues in New York City. The Internet Site lists all of the people that were interred there by name, by vault number, and by date.In Vault No. 53 there are 32 people buried.Three of them are persons of interest to the Boswell family, as follows:
Abraham Shotwell, buried 8 May 1858. This is "our" Abraham.
Grace Shotwell, buried 31 July 1866.This is "our" Grace Boardman Shotwell.
Mary Boardman, buried 13 August 1863.Her remains were relocated somewhere on 9 November 1889.Grace had a sister named Mary in 1797.She could have been a sister of Grace (if she was unmarried when she died), or she could have been Grace's sister-in-law.Further research is needed to identify her exactly.
In Vault No. 123 there is an Eliza Shotwell, buried 16 November 1871. At this time (January 2009) I don't know who she is (Stephen Ralph Boswell).There are 23 people buried in Vault 123.None of the other names are familiar to me.
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Entries From the New York City Directories
l79l, aged 26CarmanMurray Street
l792“""
l793“Greenwich Street
Abraham Shotwell married Grace Boardman, 29 September l793, in the John Street Methodist Episcopal Church in New York City.
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Abraham Shotwell Entries From the New York City Directories, Continued
l794No Entry
l795, aged 30Carman86 Murray Street
l796"76 Murray Street
Caleb Buswell, Jr., lived at 78 Murray Street in l796
Peter Shotwell, Abraham's brother, was listed in the l796 Longworth Directory, as Peter Chadwell.
l797No entry in regular section, but in list of firemen
Caleb Buswell, Jr. lived at 85 Murray Street in l797, in the Boardman Boardinghouse.It is my belief that Grace Boardman, who married Abraham Shotwell, had a sister, named Mercy Boardman, who married Caleb Buswell, Jr., but this is pure speculation at the moment.Both Abraham Shotwell and Caleb Buswell, Jr., were intimately connected with each other and the Boardman family for all of their lives.
l798No entry in regular section, but in list of firemen
l799No profession listed86 Murray Street
l800, aged 35“"""""
Abraham Shotwell, son of Peter and Susannah Shotwell, was born on l7 May l800.He committed suicide in l824 (see entry under that year).
l80l Abraham ShowellNo profession listed86 Murray Street
l802 Abraham & James """"""
l803"""""""""
William Peare Shotwell, son of Peter and Susannah Shotwell, was born on l2 February l803.
l804 Abraham & JamesGrocers86 Murray St. & Washington
l805, aged 40Grocer89 Murray Street
l806"86""
l807Grocer9l Murray Street
l808No entry
Mary Ann "Shotwell", adopted daughter of Abraham Shotwell and Grace Boardman, was born on or about 8 December l808.The "adopted" part came from the
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newspaper account of Mary Ann's marriage to Drake B. Palmer (see page 3 of this paper for the newspaper account).It is certain that this was Mary Ann Buswell, a daughter of Caleb Buswell, Jr., and that she was adopted by Abraham Shotwell and Grace Boardman after her father died in 1826, the year of her marriage to Drake B. Palmer.
l809Grocer9l Murray Street
l8l0, aged 45Grocer9l Murray Street
This address was in the 3rd Ward in the l8l0 Census;
Abraham Shotwell Entries From The New York City Directories, Continued
Caleb Buswell, Jr., lived at 249 William in l8l0
l8llGrocerl90 Washington
Home:9l Murray Street
Caleb Buswell, Jr., lived on Beach Street, near Greenwich, in l8ll.
l8l2Grocerl90 Washington
l8l3"l90 Washington
Home:278 Washington
l8l4Grocer190 Washington
Home:278 Washington
l8l5, aged 50"Same as above
l8l6"l90 Washington
l8l7"Washington
Home:Near Provost
l8l8"Same as above
l8l9"348 Washington
l820, aged 55"""
348 Washington St. was in the 5th Ward in the l820 New York City Census
l82lGrocer348 Washington
l822-23"""
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Abraham Shotwell Entries From The New York City Directories, Continued
John Coffin Buswell, son of Caleb Buswell, Jr., was in the l823-24 directory for the first and only time, listed at the address of Abraham Shotwell, 348 Washington.John C. Buswell was about 24 years old at the time, having been born in l799 in New York City, according to his death record ln l833.
John's father, Caleb Buswell, Jr., was living on Vesey, corner Greenwich, in l823-24.I don't know why John C. Buswell was not living with his parents at
that time, because both of them appeared to be living.It is possible that both parents were seriously ill at the time.
l823-24Grocer348 Washington
l824-25Grocer348 Washington
There is a death recorded in the New York City Public Health Records for Abraham Shotwell, the son of Peter and Susannah Shotwell, as follows:
“February 26, l824, Abraham Shotwell, Elizabeth Street, Aged 24, born New York City, Suicide, Buried Methodist Allen Street Cemetery, H. Stiles, Sexton."This is obviously the son that was born l7 May l800, as recorded in the John Street Methodist Church records (Book #234).
1825-26, aged 60Grocer348 Washington
l826-27Grocer348 Washington
Caleb Buswell, Jr., was listed in the l826-27 Directory as a Mason, living on Vesey Street, corner Greenwich.This is his last entry in the New York City Directories, and I presume that he died in 1826, before 4 October, when his daughter, Mary Ann “Shotwell” (adopted daughter of Abraham Shotwell), married Drake B. Palmer (though a record of Caleb Buswell, Jr.’s death has not been found).The Mercantile Advertiser, Thursday Morning, October 5, l826, New York, New York, lists the marriage as follows:"Last evening, by the Reverend N. Bangs, Mr. Drake B. Palmer, Esq., to Miss Mary Ann, adopted daughter of Abraham Shotwell, Esq., all of this city."
The same identical entry is in the New York Spectator, Tuesday, October l0, l826 (Entry is listed under Thursday evening, October 5).Since Abraham Shotwell and his wife had taken care of John Coffin Buswell, a son of Caleb Buswell, Jr., for several years, in their home, and since he died there in 1833; and since Abraham and Grace Shotwell assumed responsibility for John Coffin Buswell’s younger sister, Harriet Buswell, upon the death of John
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Abraham Shotwell Entries From New York City Directories, Continued
Coffin Buswell in 1833, as noted in the will folder (discussed later); and since Drake B. Palmer is called the brother-in-law of John Coffin Buswell; and because Mary Ann Palmer is one of the next of kin of John Coffin Buswell (as shown in the will folder) it is almost certain that Caleb Buswell died in 1826, and his daughter, Mary Ann Buswell, was adopted by Abraham Shotwell and his wife.
l827-28Grocer3l6 Washington
l828-29"""
1829-30"358 Washington
Mercy Buswell, Beach Street, aged 50, died l February l829.She died of Consumption (Tuberculosis), and was born in Connecticut.Grace Boardman was also born in Connecticut, according to the l850 Census.Mercy Buswell was buried in the Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, a common burial place for several known members of the Boswell ancestry from New York City.In the l829 Directory,there was a Widow Boorman living at 47 Beach Street.It is possible that Mercy Buswell was living with the widow Boorman (a common misspelling for Boardman) at 47 Beach St. when she died, but it is only speculation at this point.Mercy was probably the wife of Caleb Buswell, Jr.; and her health may have been so poor in 1826, when her husband died, that she could not care for her children, and they were adopted (or simply cared for) by Abraham Shotwell and Grace Boardman.
There was a Joseph Buswell listed in the l79l and later directories for a few years, and there is always a possibility that Mercy belonged to him.We don't know if there was any relationship between Joseph Buswell and Caleb Buswell, Jr.Caleb had a brother named Joseph, but he was born 24 March 1786, in Concord, New Hampshire, so he could not have been the Merchant living in New York City in the l790's.
1830-3l, aged 65Grocer358 Washingto
This address was in the 5th Ward of the NYC Census of l830, on page 249.In the l830 Census, Abraham Shotwell is listed as having l male 20 to 30.It is probable that this was John Coffin Buswell, the son of Caleb Buswell, Jr.He also had a female between l0 and l5.This could have been Harriet Buswell, John's little sister, because Abraham Shotwell consented to become Harriet's
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Abraham Shotwell Entries From The New York City Directories, Continued
guardian in l833, when John C. Buswell died.There was also a male between 60 and 70 (obviously, Abraham Shotwell), and a female between 50 and 60 (obviously, Grace Boardman Shotwell).
l83l-32Grocer358 Washington
l832-33"""
l833-34Grocer358 Washington St.
On 2l February l833, John Coffin Buswell died at Abraham Shotwell's home.John's little sister, Harriet, was under 2l at the time, and had no legal guardian.Abraham Shotwell and Grace Boardman Shotwell agreed to become her guardian, as noted in the file containing the will of John C. Buswell.
John left everything to his "dearly beloved Aunt Grace [Boardman] Shotwell."The next of kin were listed as follows:Mary Ann Palmer (wife of Drake B. Palmer), Harriet Buswell (under 2l), William Buswell, Eliza Hopping, and George Buswell.Eliza Hopping was born on 4 Aug 1803, and married Buckley Carl Hopping on 1 December 1825.She is called Eliza Bothwell in the Ancestral File of the LDS Church.It should have been Buswell, or Boswell, rather than Bothwell.She was a sister of John Coffin Buswell, as noted in the will folder of her brother, John Coffin Buswell, as was Mary Ann “Shotwell” Palmer.There are two girls, both born before 1810, that show up in the 1810 Census of New York City, under Caleb Russell (an obvious error by the Census taker).Correlating the Census record on page 72 of the 4th Ward of the 1810 Census, with the New York City Longworth Directory of 1810, shows, without question, that “Caleb Russell” of the Census, was, in fact Caleb Buswell.The other girl in that family, Harriet, was born after 1810.Mary Ann and Eliza are the only two girls in the right age range to be those two daughters listed in the 1810 Census.
Eliza Buswell, Mary Ann “Shotwell” Buswell, and George Buswell were not known to the Utah Boswells, from records that were handed down from Abraham Boswell, until the will folder of John Coffin Buswell was found by me (Stephen Ralph Boswell) in the New York Surrogate Court in New York City.
There was a George Bussell in the l826-27 Longworth Directory, that was a Carpenter, living at 45 Watts Street.In the l827-28 Longworth Directory, he is listed at 25 Watts St. David Crowell was listed in the l829-30 Longworth Directory at that same address (25 Watts Street).That may very well mean
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that George Bussell is our relative, George Buswell, who was one of the next of kin mentioned in the probate records of John C. Buswell.Another interesting fact that may have significance in this regard, is that in the l828-29 Longworth Directory, John Boardman, Stonecutter, lived at 39 Watts Street.John Boardman was Grace Boarman Shotwell’s brother.It looks as if the Buswells, Crowells, and Boardmans worked closely together, and lived close together for many years.Several of them were Masons.
The will of John C. Buswell was in the possession of Drake B. Palmer until brought in by Grace Shotwell.The full text of this will can be found in a similar paper on John Coffin Buswell.
The New York Standard, New York, New York, Friday Morning, 22 Feb. l833, has a death entry that reads as follows:
"Yesterday morning ofConsumption, John C. Buswell, in the 34th year of his age.His friends, and those of his uncle, Abraham Shotwell, Esq., and also those of his brother-in-law Drake B. Palmer, are respectfully invited to attend his funeral, without further invitation, this afternoon, at 4 o'clock, from his late residence, No. 358 Washington."Note: This is Abraham Shotwell’s address.
The same, identical announcement was in the New York Advocate and Journal, New York, New York, Friday Morning, 22 February l833.
Abraham Shotwell Entries From The New York City Directories, Continued
l834-35Grocer358 Washington
l835-36, aged 70"""
l836-37"348 Washington
l837-38"""
l838-39Grocer348 Washington Street
l839-40 to l85l-52Grocer348 Washington
In l840, Abraham Shotwell was 75 years old.
1852-53 to l855-56Late Grocer""
On 6 May l852, Mary Ann "Shotwell" Palmer, died at 358 Washington St., at the age of 43 years.The death was recorded in the Evening Mirror, Saturday 8 May l852.
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Abraham Shotwell Entries From The New York City Directories, Continued
1856-57Late Merchant348 Washington
l857-58""""
In the New York City Public Health Death Records, the death of Abraham Shotwell is noted as follows:
"May 6, l858, Abraham Shotwell, 2l8 West 38th Street, 92 years, 6 months, 28 days, born New Jersey, Died Erysepilas, Buried Marble--20th Street Cemetery."
The death of Abraham Shotwell was recorded in the New York Evening Post on Friday, 7 May l858; and the New York Times, Friday, 7 May l858, on page 5, records his death as follows: (See next page)
"SHOTWELL, In this city, on Thursday May 6, ABRAHAM SHOTWELL, in the 93rd year of his age.His relatives and friends and those of his family are invited to attend his funeral without further invitation from his late residence, No. 2l8 West 28th Street, on Saturday May 8 at 3 o'clock P. M."
Comments On the Will Of Abraham Shotwell
The will of Abraham Shotwell was dated 4 October l856 and probated 3l July l858.He left everything to his wife Grace, and after her death to his brother James Shotwell, living in Cincinnati, Ohio, in l858, and his nephew, John Shotwell, "only child of Peter Shotwell, a deceased brother of said testator."Grace Shotwell and John Boardman were the executrix and executor of the will.John Shotwell lived at 6 Watts Street in l858, according to the probate records.Several Crowells and other known family members lived at 9 Watts Street, during
the l830's.They were all Masons.The full text of AbrahamShotwell's will is presented later in this paper.
It should be noted that John Shotwell may have been the only living child of Peter Shotwell in l858; but two other male children were born to Peter and Susannah Shotwell.Abraham Shotwell was the name of their first child (named after his uncle), born l7 May l800, in New York City.He committed suicide on 26 February l824, at the age of 24.He lived on Elizabeth Street at the time.He was buried in the Methodist Allen Street Cemetery, H. Stiles, Sexton.The birth was recorded in the John Street Methodist Church Records (Book # 234).
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Their second son, William Peare Shotwell, was born l2 February l803, in New York City.
In the l80l New York City Directory, there is a James D. Chadwell, at 55 Church Street.In the l802 Directory, there is a James Shotwell living with Abraham Shotwell at 86 Murray Street.James D. Chadwell and James Shotwell may be the same person, but I am not certain.
Peter Shotwell, another brother of Abraham's, was listed in one of the two l796 New York City Directories as Peter Chadwell, and in the other as Peter Shotwell.There was a Mrs. Chadwell at 23 William Street in the l787 Franks Directory.There was a Benjamin Chadwell, Sailing Master, listed at 47 Broad Street in the 1789 Hodge, Allen & Campbell Directory.He is listed the same in the l790 directory.In the l79l William Duncan Directory, there is a widow Charwell, Boardinghouse, at 8 Fletcher Street.In the l792 and l793 Duncan Directories, there is a Hannah Chadwell, Boardinghouse, at l4 Great Dock Street.In the l794 and l795 Duncan Directories, there is a Mrs. Chadwell, at 8l Pearl Street.Her listing is the same in the l796, l797, and l798 Longworth Directories.In the l80l, l802, l803, and l804 Longworth Directories, her entries are identical except that she is at 82 Pearl.In the l804 John Langdon & Son Directory, she is listed as, Mrs. Hannah Chadwell, 82 Pearl.In the l805 John S. Jones Directory, she is listed as, Mrs. Chadwell, Boardinghouse, 82 Pearl.In the l806 and l807 Longworth Directories, she is listed as, Mrs. Chadwell, 70 Greenwich.In the l808, l809, and l8l0 Longworth Directories, she is listed as, Chadwell, Widow, 70 Greenwich.Those are her last entries.The name, Chadwell, may prove to be a fruitful proving ground for further research into the ancestry of Abraham Shotwell.He does not appear to be part of any of the families listed in the famous book on the Shotwells that is so beautifully done (Annals of Our Colonial Ancestors....).
Another potential source of research on Abraham may be found by following leads on Long Island.Jacob Brush, who was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Peter Voorhis, and Jeremiah Casden were witnesses to the marriage of Abraham Shotwell and Grace Boardman on 29 September l793.The marriage was performed by Thomas Morrell.Brush is a famous Long Island name, and Voorhis is a common name in early New Jersey.
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WILL OF ABRAHAM SHOTWELL
Will dated 4 October l856, proved 3l July l858; he died 6 May l858.The will may be found in Liber l25, page 53, wills, Surrogate Court, Chambers Street, New York City.
“In the name of God, Amen, I, Abraham Shotwell, of the city, county, and state of New York, being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and Testament.
“First, I direct my Executors hereinafter named to pay all my just debts and funeral expenses;
“Second, I give devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife Grace Shotwell all my estate, Real, Personal, and Mixed, of whatever name or nature or wheresoever situated of which I may die siezed or be entitled to for her own use and disposal during her natural life.
“Third, after the decease of my said wife, whatever portion of my said estate shall remain undisposed of by my said wife either real or personal or the proceeds thereof remaining to my said wife and not otherwise disposed of by her, I direct the same to be sold and converted into money by my said executor and for which purpose I give him full power to sell and convey my said Real Estate or so much thereof as shall remain so undisposed of by my said wife and out of the proceeds of my said estate so remaining to pay the following legacies, which I give devise and bequeath, Viz., to my Brother, James Shotwell, the sum of one thousand dollars; to my nephew, John Shotwell, the sum of Five hundred dollars; to the nieces of my said wife, Julia Ann Boardman, Sarah Boardman, and Augusta Boardman, each the sum of Five hundred dollars.
“Fourth I give devise and bequeath unto Maria Antoinette Whitlock, wife of David Whitlock, all the rest residue and remainder of my said Estate after the decease of my said wife and the payment of the legacies above mentioned.
“Fifth, I do nominate and appoint my said wife, Grace Shotwell, Executrix and John Boardman Executor of this my last will and testament revoking all other
wills by me made.In testimony thereof I have to this my last will and testament subscribed my name and set my seal this Fourth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty six.
Signed by Abraham Shotwell
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Will of Abraham Shotwell, Continued
Witnesses:Jeremiah E. Cary, 2l0 West 22nd Street
Robert C. Skidmore, 93 Clinton Place”
Robert C. Skidmore died before the proving of the will.William B. Skidmore