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Nathaniel SHANNON and Elizabeth

HUSBAND:
[F1896]. Nathaniel SHANNON. [PC T4-9].
He was born in (1655-S2,S5)(1660-S7)(1665-S10) in Londonderry, Ulster, Ireland {S2,S5,S7); possibly the son of Nathaniel SHANNON [F3792].

Some sources (S1, S2) say this should be Cutts Shannon instead of Nathaniel Shannon, but they appear to be confusing this generation with the grandson Cutts Shannon who married Mary Vaughan.

Most families in Ireland with the name Shannon come from further south in Ireland. The ancient Irish name O'seanchain is traced in O'Harts Irish Pedigrees back prior to A.D. 600. Shannons in the north are rather rare at this period in time. One notable exception seems to be the Shannon family who settled in Pennsylvania, who were also in Londonderry; but who originally came from Scotland, and not from Ireland. According to The Book of Ulster Surnames, the Shannon surname first emerged in the southwest area of Scotland where they were the harpers to the MacDonalds who populated Kintyre. The move to Ireland and Ulster seems to have coincided with the Protestant Reformation during the reign of James I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625), and under the auspices of the corporation of the city of London to which the confiscated estates of the native Irish in Ulster had been granted by the crown. {S5,S9}. Nathaniel was of the Presbyterian faith, which lends credence to this theory. {S2}. In fact, source 10 says that, indeed, the family was of Scottish origin.

Historians relate that during the year preceding the Revolution of 1688, which dethroned James the Second, large numbers of Protestants emigrated from Northern Ireland to Great Britain and America, some to escape the cruel measures devised for their persecution by the Earl of Tyrconnel, the Catholic Lord Lieutenant, and others to avoid the calamities of an impending civil war. Among those who emigrated to America was Nathaniel Shannon, the subject of this sketch, who landed in Boston some time during the year 1687, wh;re he permanently located. He had then attained the age of thirty-two years, was probably unmarried, had but limited means, but possessed what in those times was regarded as the equivalent to wealth, — an excellent education,—of which his autograph papers, still preserved in the Massachusetts State Archives, are the ample proof.* Immediately after his arrival he engaged in mercantile pursuits, which he continued for many years, and also filled some of the town offices of Boston.{S13}.

He immigrated to New Hampshire; first living in (Portsmouth-S5,S7) (Rockingham County, New Hampshire-S2). It appears that his arrival in New England was spurred by cruel measures that were being instituted to persecute the protestants. These measures resulted in the Revolution of 1688, a civil war that caused many protestants to emigrate from northern Ireland to Great Britain and America. These events caused Nathaniel and his family to be loyal to the English ascendency in Ireland. {S2,S5].

Nathaniel was very well educated, with many surving papers in the Massachusett archives to document his education. (S5).

He married (Elizabeth-S2,S5) (in 1685-S2,S5)(about 1685-S7) (in New Hampshire-S?). He arrived in Boston in (1687-S2)(1689-S5) (at the age of 32 and unmarried-S2). [Note that S2 and S5 contradict themselves, saying that he married in New Hampshire in 1685, but arrived in Boston unmarried in 1687/1689].

NOTE: It is probable that Nathaniel did not go to New Hampshire, nor reside there. It is most likely that records which say so are confusing him with his son Nathaniel who did reside for a number of years in New Hampshire. Therefore, Nathaniel probably that he did arrive in Boston unmarried in 1687, and married there shortly after his arrival.

petition to the General Court in 1689 praying for the release of his servant who had been impressed " to go a Souldier agt. the Indians.

He was a Naval Officer for Port of Boston for about 22 years, having been appointed to the Navel Office by the Earl of Bellmont in 1699. (S5,S13).

Nathaniel and his family were members of the old South Meeting House, also called The Cedar Church, which congregation he joined in 1701. This church was torn down in 1729, six years after Nathaniel's death, to give place to a newer the structure. (S5).

He died on 27 AUG 1723 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, after a long and lingering illness. {S2,S5}. His death was published in the Boston News Letter. He was buried on 28 August 1723 in the Old Granary Burying Ground on Tremont Street, adjacent to Boston Common, in Boston Massachusetts. His grave is located on the left, far in the back, not far from Paul Revere. His stone was restored by Richard Cutts Shannan, and was encased in bronze. (S5).

WIFE:
Elizabeth. [PC T4-9].
She married Nathaniel SHANNON (in 1685-S2,S5) in (Portsmouth-S5) (Rockingham County, New Hampshire-S2, S5).


CHILDREN of Nathaniel SHANNON [F1896] and Elizabeth [F1897]:
  1. [F948]. Nathaniel SHANNON. [PC T4-9]. Born 9 December 1689 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was baptised at Old South Church on 22 DEC 1689.(S2). He married (1) ?. (S1, S3,S6). They had son Thomas SHANNON. (S1,S3,S6). He married (2) Abigail VAUGHAN (S1, S3), daughter of William Vaughan and Margarett Cutts, on (23 OCT-S2)(25 NOV-S5,S6) at (Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts-S1, S3,S6)(in Portsmouth, New Hampshire-S2,S5). She was born (5 MAY 1683-S2,S5) in (Portsmouth, NH-S5) and died in 1762. (S2). Abigail left a will dated 2/18/1756 in which she names her grand children and son Cutts as the executor of the will. (S2). Nathaniel died (before 1723-S2)(in 1723-S1, S3, S5, S6) in the West Indies, "probably" in Barbados. (S2,S5). They had three sons Nathaniel b.2/17/1714-1715, Cutts b. 8/17/1717, and Thomas b. (1720-S2)(1725-S5).
  2. 2. Robert Cutts SHANNON. (S2,S5) Born on 7 JUN 1695.(S2, S5,S7,S8) in (Boston, Massachusetts-S5,S7,S8)
  3. 3. Samuel SHANNON. (S2,S5). Born on 16 JAN 1698 in Boston, Massachusetts. He married Ann (S5). [Ann Miller and Samuel Shannon were married on 4 April 1733 in Boston, Massachusetts by Rev. William Cooper] MILLER.(S8)]. (S5).
  4. Sizley Shannon & Edmond Bruck (Rourk?) were married on May 22, 1727 in Boston, Massachusetts by Mr. Thomas Prince (S8), but there is no confirmation to link Sizley to this family. The Intention of Sisley & Henry Wilson was published on Mar. 8, 1724.


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