Shearjashub Bourne, Esq.

Was so named to express his father's wish. (Isaiah 7:3 means - a remnant shall return (to carry on work)) Successfully carried on his father's work among the Indians.

In the 17th century, missionary Richard Bourne tried unsuccessfully to have the Plymouth Court record a deed confirming the title of the Wampanoag to land between what are now the Santuit and Childs rivers. He died in 1682 without achieving his goal.

Three years later, his son, Shearjashub Bourne, succeeded where his father had failed. The court confirmed the title of the "South Sea Indians," as the Wampanoag were sometimes called, to the land and said none of it could be purchased by the English without the consent of all the Indians.

Shearjashub, son of Richard, was superintendent of the

Indians, and resided in their territory and engaged in commerce with them (otter and other peltries).

Mr. Bourne was an indefatigable and devoted missionary.

In all his transactions he proved himself a man of excellent judgment, and was so regarded by all persons. He was also esteemed a sincere Christian, possessed of a more than ordinary share of a "most excellent spirit."

https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LTXT-WMZ/shearjashub-bourne-1...

Shearjashub Bourne was born on 21 Apr 1643 in Sandwich, Mass. and died on 7 Mar 1718/1719 in Sandwich, Mass. .

Shearjashub married Bathsheba Skiff about 1666. Bathsheba was born on 21 Apr 1648 in Sandwich, Mass.. She was the daughter of James Skiffe and Mary Reeves. She died on 13 May 1714 in Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts . (Sources: - 1)

Shearjashub - was so named to express his father's wish. (Isaiah 7:3 means - a remnant shall return (to carry on work)) Successfully carried on his father's work among the Indians.

In the 17th century, missionary Richard Bourne tried unsuccessfully to have the Plymouth Court record a deed confirming the title of the Wampanoag to land between what are now the Santuit and Childs rivers. He died in 1682 without achieving his goal.

Three years later, his son, Shearjashub Bourne, succeeded where his father had failed. The court confirmed the title of the "South Sea Indians," as the Wampanoag were sometimes called, to the land and said none of it could be purchased by the English without the consent of all the Indians.

Nine children - including Judge Meletiah Bourne who married Desire Howland the daughter of John Howland and Hope Tilley. Was often a representative of Plymouth Colony and the Province of Mass.

Shearjashub Bourne was propounded freeman 7 June 1681 and his name, together with that of his brother Elisha, appears on a list of "such as took up their freedom" 6 June 1682 (Plymouth Colony Court Records, vol. 6, p. 62, 86). A deed, dated 1 Aug. 1682, from Richard Bourne conveys "for diverse good causes and reasons as well as for the love and affection" of the father, a tract of land "now in the tenure of the sd Shearjashub Bourne," which lands had originally been obtained by Richard Bourne from Paupmunnuck, through the agency of Mr. (John) Alden (Mayflower Descendant, vol. 33, p. 52), Shearjashub was appointed, 31 Oct. 1682, co-administrator of his father's intestate estate (supra). He was chosen Selectman 3 June 1684 and a Deputy to the General Court 4 July 1684 (Plymouth Colony Court Records, vol. 6, p. 127, 129). The indenture, dated 14 Oct. 1684, by Simon Papmonit and others, "Indians belonging to a place called Mashpee, scituated in Sandwich," transferred "for good securities given by Sheirjashub Bourn of Sandwich, yeoman," the land upon which the Indian meeting house was to be built, has been preserved. It was recorded in the Barnstable County Deeds, liber 4, p. 128, which was destroyed in the 1827 fire, as we see in the Mayflower Descendant, vol. 33, p. 55, 56. Shearjashub Bourne purchased land from the Indians 8 March 1699/1700 and from Nathan3 Bourne 28 June 1709 (ibid., p. 53, 55).

By deed, dated 13 March 1713/14, "Shearjashub Bourn Esqr." conveyed "for the Love and Good Will & affection which I have and doe bear unto my loving son Ezra Bourn of Sandwich … all my lands and meadow ground viz. my homestead on which I now dwell, . 4 acres, all my sd dwelling house, barn, etc. … also that tract of land where the sd Ezra Bourn now dwelleth which I bought of Capt. Amos, Isaac Wompom, John Wepoch & other Indians (as agent for the South Sea Indians) about 30 acres as per deed 8 March 1699/1700. also the upland and meadow at Manamentskoy and places adjacent, bounded by the Neck now in the occupation of my son Melatiah Bourn (only excepting the meddow at Secombsett Island). also my 10 acres of land I have right yet to take up & divide, as also that Neck of land on which Isaac Green now dwelleth, with the dwelling house and outbuildings thereon; also my right in the Island or neck of land near Man[ahaut]." Signed by Shearjashub Bourne. Witnessed by Israel Tuppec, Jonathan Johnson, William Bassett; acknowledged 13 March 1713/14; recorded 9 March 1718/19 in Barnstable County Deed liber 9, p. 345-6 (ibid., p. 55, 56).

There can be no doubt that Shearjashub Bourne, Esq., possessed unusual ability and gained considerable influence in the county and even in the colony. He carried on his father's missionary activities with the South Sea Indians. Betsy Keene in her History of Bourne, 1937, p. 216, tells us that in the American Wing of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art are displayed two beakers which are ascribed to the hand of Moody Russell and described as "the gift of Shearjashub Bourne, Esq., to the Church of Sandwich."

The will of "Shearjashub Bourn of Sandwich," dated 6 March 1718/19, gives "unto my eldest son Melatiah Bourne . all my lands and meadows within the township of Falmouth … unto my son Ezra Bourne all my lands in Sandwich and Marshpee ... to my grandson Shearjashub Bourne, £100. of my moveable Estate ... to my grandson Joseph Bourne £100. unto my daughter Mary, £200. to my daughter Remember, £200. my daughter Patience, £209" and orders that "my three daughters should have the one half of what I have given them, within one year and the remainder two years after my decease ... I give to the use of the Church of Christ in Sandwich £8." He makes his "two sons, Melatiah and Ezra Bourne" co-executors. Signed by a mark: witnessed by Joseph Foster, Eliakim Tupper, Elizabeth Fuller. The inventory, dated 7 March 1718/19, shows personal estate some £943, and considerable real property. Appraised by John Chipman and Eliakim Tupper, sworn 16 April, will proved 20 April 1719 (Barnstable County Probate, vol. 3, p. 577). [The Rev. Richard1 Bourne of Sandwich, Mass. (c. 1610-1682) by Lydia B. (Phinney) Brownson and Maclean W. McLean, NEHGR 118-9, 1964-5]

stone: HERE LYETH Ye BODY OF SHEARJASHUB BOURN ESQ'R WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE MARCH Ye 7th 1718/19 IN THE 76 YEAR OF HIS AGE

HE WAS A VIRTUOUS RIGHTEOUS & MERCIFUL MAN AND A GREAT FRIEND TO Ye INDIANS PRECIOUS IN Ye SIGHT OF Ye LORD IS Ye DEATH OF THIS SAINT

Shearjashub2 Bourne, Esq. (Richard1), born probably in Sandwich about 1643, died there 7 March 1718/19, "aet. 76" (Sandwich Cemetery Records).

He married about 1673 Bathsheba Skiffe, born in Sandwich 26 April 1648, died there 13 May 1714, "aet. 67 years" (ibid.), daughter of James1 Skiffe and a sister of the wife of Elzsha Bourne.