George Sherman was christened 14 October 1593 in Cropredy, the son of William Sherman and Anne Gardner. George was listed at a scholar from Bourton to Williamscot School in 1604. This was a school for boys from eight to eighteen years old.

George married Audrey Sabean. Audrey was christened 15 March 1591 in Cropredy, the daugher of  Thomas Sabean and Alyce Mannsell.

George died and was buried 23 Apr 1672 in Cropredy.

Burial record for George Sherman in Cropredy:
"George Sherman was buried the 23d day of April 1672"

Audrey was buried 4 January 1678 in Cropredy.

Burial record for Audrey Sherman in Cropredy:
"Audria Sharman widow was buried the 4th day of January 1678"

George and Audrey had the following children:
 

1. Henrie, christened 9 January 1631 in Cropredy.
 

2. Thomas, christened 19 May 1632 in Cropredy; married Mary Kendole 19 March 1668 in Cropredy; occupation - laborer; buried 24 July 1702 in Cropredy.
 

*3. Elizabeth, born in about 1635 of Cropredy; married Thomas Giles 29 December 1663 in Cropredy.
 
 

SOURCES: IGI; Cropredy parish register.
   
 

William Sherman was christened 6 November 1564 in Cropredy, the son of John Sherman and Alice Denze. William is shown as one of the scholars from Bourton to the Williamscot School in 1576 and 1579. This was a school from boys from eight to eighteen years old.

William married Anne Gardner 27 June 1587 in Cropredy.

Marriage record for William Sherman and Anne Gardner in Cropredy:
"Wm Sherman and Anne Gardner were married the same daie"

Anne was born in about 1565 of Little Bourton in the parish of Cropredy, the daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth Gardner. Anne was named as the only heir in the will of her mother Elizabeth Gardner, a widow, in 1616.

The Shermans were mentioned in A History of the County of Oxford in a section on Great and Little Bourton: "A water-mill and windmill in the Bourtons passed from William and Anne Sharman to George and John Gardner in 1624. Perhaps this water-mill was the Mose Mill mentioned in Bourton together with Slat Mill in 1636."  

William died and was buried 1 April 1638 in Cropredy.

Burial record for William Sherman in Cropredy:
"William Sharman was buried the first day of Aprill"

William and Anne had the following children:
 

*1. George, christened 14 October 1593 in Cropredy; married Audrey Sabean; buried 21 April 1672 in Cropredy.

Baptism record for George Sherman in Cropredy: "George Sherman the sonne of Wm Sherman and Anne his wife was christened the 14 daie of October"

2. Dorcas, christened 13 June 1596 in Cropredy.
 

3. Samuel, christened 10 October 1598 in Cropredy.
 

4. Nathanaell, christened 10 October 1598 in Cropredy.
 

5. Dina, christened 22 June 1600 in Cropredy.
 

6. Samuell, christened 20 November 1603 in Cropredy.
 

7. Lidia, christened 4 May 1606 in Cropredy.
 

8. Debora, christened 31 July 1608 in Cropredy.
 

9. Obediah, christened 24 June 1610 in Cropredy.
 
 

SOURCES: Cropredy parish register; A History of the County of Oxford, vol. 10; "The Registers of Williamscote School", Cake & Cockhorse, Banbury Historical Society, January 1963.
 
 

Marriage record for John Sherman and Alice Denze in Cropredy:
"John Sherman & Aylls Denze whas maryd the xxiith day of Noveber"

Burial record for John Sherman in Cropredy:
"Jhon Sherman was buried the xiiijth day of July"

John and Alice had the following child:

1. Elizabeth, born between 1556 and 1559 - mentioned in grandfather John Sherman's will. Elizabeth was also mentioned in her father's will of 1574, and was under the age of 21.

*2. William, christened 6 November 1564 in Cropredy; married Anne Gardner 27 June 1587 in Cropredy; buried 5 April 1638 in Cropredy.

Christening record for William Sherman in Cropredy: "William Sherman the sonne of Jhon Sherman and his wyfe was chrystened the vi daye of November" 

SOURCES: Cropredy parish register; will of John Sherman, 1574, Oxfordshire Peculiar Court, www.findmypast.com; will of John Sherman, 1559 on www.findmypast.com; "The Town of Cropredy”, Pamela Keegan.
   

Burial record for Annes Sherman in Cropredy:
"Annes Sherman ye wyffe of John Sherman whas beryd ye xxiiijth day of May"

John was one of five trustees selected to represent the town of Cropredy in 1557:

"These townsmen wanted back their land to pay for the clock to be wound and bells rung and five trustees from the Bourton and Cropredy Bell Land trust were chosen to act on their behalf namely Thomas Smith, Will Newman, John Sherman, Roger Truste and Thomas Gubbyn. They presented a bill proving the land was the gift of Roger Lupton and Richard Skipwith and that "the premises came not, nor ought to come into the hand of the late king..."  The land had been taken during the time of Henry VIII, when church lands were taken over by the crown. "By 1553 catholic Mary was on the throne and she did allow land and grants to help many churches and by 1557 it was finally returned. One tenement in which Joane Hill widow dwelt for twentyone years was to be leased for half a year to the defendant plus 40s and the present tenant Thomas Gardner must surrender. With no doubt a sigh of relief the five transferred the property to younger trustees. For nine years they had fought to win back their strips of land in the Wardington Open Common Fields, which after 1775 were gathered into one Bell Land plot on the road to Chacombe." (The Town of Cropredy)

John died and was buried in 1559, leaving a will, naming son John, William, daughters Katherine, Margaret, Julian, Besse and Agnes, and wife Alys:

The will of John Sherman, 1559

"In 1559 John Sherman of Little Bourton had eight hives of bees to give to his children. One each to John and Katherine, and two to William, Jullian and Besse [183 250v 151r]." (The Town of Cropredy; Keegan)

"In 1559 a husband who forsaw problems for his wife and settled firmly in her favour was John Sherman of Bourton who made Alys his wife sole executrix "I will my wyfe to have anything concerninge my will and testament without any trouble of my son John or any other in his name or for him and all covenants made before betwixt him and my wife and if he will not so do the said John to have no parte of my goodes but by the oversight of my overseers" [MS. Will Oxon 183: 250]. (The Town of Cropredy; Keegan)

"It was expected to find a cheese press somewhere on the property. Of the twentyone house sites known to be producing cheese fifteen were recorded, but how had the rest been missed when the appraisers went round? The press needed a large box full of stones, pressing down on the cheese held in a special vat. John Sherman of Bourton had a "rendle" stone for a cheese press. The dairy maid or man servant helped the mistress to add more weights to increase the pressure, squeezing out the whey into a bowl beneath. From the press the cheese (or "lead" as a 56lb cheese was called), was taken to the rack for daily turning. Some had different routines, but all used a special cheese cloth wrapped round the cheese to keep its shape." (The Town of Cropredy; Keegan)

"Not all debts mentioned were upon bonds, some were the day to day debts occurring in a household. John Sherman of Little Bourton made a will in 1559 detailing these worrying sums: "William Truss wyffe owith me iijs iiijd of wch I forgette her v grotes [a silver coin worth four pence] so that she do paye that willingly to my wife or ellys to paye the sole iijs iiijd. Ric Clarydge owithe me xxd or ells a shepe worthe xxd. John Molle owithe me vjd. Olde grenewodde of Cledon owithe me iiijd for rents." Was Grenewodde in a cottage and this was his quarterly rent? Richard Cleredge was a drover."  (The Town of Cropredy; Keegan)

In the name of God Amen the xvth daye of January ano domini 1559 I John Sherman sicke of bodie but hole of mynd do make my last will and teastament as folowith first I bequethe my soule to God and my bodie to be buried in the churche yard of Cropredye. I bequethe to the high aulter iijd. Itm to the bells   iiijd. Itm to the souithe bridge a stryke of malte. Itm to Lyttell Burton a stryke of mault to mende the causeywayes grehene iiijd is. I bequethe to my godchildren ijd apece. I geve and bequethe to John my sonne a plough a plowe geyres a payre of harrows and my second carte and cart gayres. Itm my will is that immediately after my deathe Alys my wyffe shall leve unto John my sonne halfe a yard landes croppe for that yere and the sayde John to paye to the sayd his motherinlawe or to her assignes the above namyd half yard landes croppe the third yere after and to to  repaye as good stuffe as he seconyd. Allso my will is that John my sonne shall have ij caples at his mother in lawes election. I geve to John my sonne all the hovelles under one ruffe. I bequethe to John my sonne that iiij part of my wodd aboaute the house or growndes and halfe the frutte with his mother. I geve to my sonne John ij bourdes and a taple bourd and a hyve of bees. I bequethe to Elsabeth Johns daughter a shepe. I geve to John my son ij drye fattes. I geve to Katherine my daughter a table bord a brasse pott and ij shepe a hive of bees a payre of shetes a pillobeyre a bedstede a matters a coverlet a meal clothe a towel and a cowe. I geve to Margaret my daughter a cow and ij shepe a fate & a cople of bourdes to make her a table and a cople of bourdes to make her a bedde and a brasse pott and a matters a coverlet a pane a coffer a platter and a pewter dyshe a meateclothe a towell and ij payre of shetes. I geve to Willm my sone a cowe and a bredere and my best cart and my wyffe do marrie Willm my sonne to have the cart to his owne pte and if she do not marrye my wiffe to have the campieng of the cart until Willm my sonne do come unto lawfull age. Itm I bequethe to my sonne Willm ij shepe and ij hives and bees and my best brasse pott and a malte quorne and bourdes to make him a bedde and bourdes to make him a table a chest to make him a forme. I bequethe to him a wete fate. I geve to Julian my dawghter a heiffor a brasse pott a bedstede and ij bourdes to make her a table and ij hives of bees and all things be longing to a bedde two shepe and ij payre of shetes a wett fate. I geve to Besse my daughter a cowe a bedde and all things belonging to the same ij hives of beys and ij shepe a brasse pott and a wett fate and ij payre of shetes and a pillobeyre a brasse panne. I geve to Agnes my daughter a heifer with a calfe & to be at my wyfes custodie and to be at the settinge of my overseers and the sayde Agnes not to have the heifer till the daye of her marriage or lawfull age. I geve Julian my daughter a stone troughe to sirve hogges in and a vendle stone for a chise presse; I geve to Willm my sonne the biggest broche and a payre of cobberdes. I geve to Julian my dawghter a weninge calfe. I geve to Sir Ric Hill curat iiijd and to Thomas Bodiam clarke iiijd. I geve to Alys my wyffe after my decease halfe a yard land duringe her lyffe. All the rest of my ungeven goodes I geve to Alys my wyffe whom I make my sole executrixe of this my last will and testament to bring me honestly to earthe and to paye my deptes. I will my wife to have any thinge concerning my will and teastament without any trouble of my sone John or any other in his name or for him and all covenants made before betwixt him and my wife, and if he will not so do the sayd John to have no parte of my goodes but by the oversight of my overseers. I do make Ric Bacheler and Ric Garnare John Colman John Astall and they to have vid apece. Wyttnes Rich Hill C. Gardener Jamys Hickman. Willm Truss wyffe owith me iijs iiijd of which I forgeve her v grotes so that she do paye that willingly to my wife or ellys to paye the hole iijs iiijd. Itm. Ric Clarydge owithe me xxd or ells a shepe worthe xxd. Itm John Molle owithe me vid. Itm olde Grenewodde of Cledon owithe me iiijd for rente.

John and Annes had the following children:
 

*1. John, christened 10 February 1541 in Cropredy; married Alice Denze 22 November 1556 in Cropredy; buried 24 July 1574 in Cropredy. John was mentioned in the will of Richard Denze in 1559, as Richard left a sheep apiece to each of John's children.

Baptism record of John Sherman in Cropredy: "John Sherman ye sonne of John Sherman & Annes hys wyffe
whas crystyned ye xth day of February"

2. Yssabell, christened 22 September 1542 in Cropredy.
 

3. Katherine, mentioned in brother John's will of 1574.

4. Margaret
 

5. William
 

6. Jullian (female)
 

7. Besse

9. Agnes 
 

SOURCES: Cropredy parish register; "The Town of Cropredy”, Pamela Keegan; will of John Sherman, 1559, Oxfordshire Peculiar Court,  www.findmypast.com.
 
 

JOHN AND ALYS SHERMAN

There is no christening record for John Sherman, born in about 1510, since that predates the parish register. A John Sherman is mentioned in a land grant of 3 October 1512:

"But from another grant, Oct. 3, next year, Roger Lupton him self appears to give houses and lands for this his purpose. For — Roger Lupton and Rich. Skipwith grant to Thos. Ffrench, Bob. Lumbard, Rich. Howse, Hugh Page, "Will. Lumbard, Rog. Truste, Rob. Burman, Will. Grene, Tho. Smyth, Tho. Dalton, Will. Newman, Rob. Osburne, Peter Lumbard, John Shereman, John Gubbys, Tho. Hall, John Gyll, Tho. Plant, Will. "Walker, Tho. Gobyn, Valentine Jamys, Tho. Colyer, John Jefkyns, Thos. Browne and Tho. Bacheler, of Cropredy, our two tenements iu Wardington, two crofts appertaining, and a quarter of a yardland ; one tenement and croft between Hugh Tynkok, north, and Rob. Mathew, south ; the other tenement and croft between Joan Sabyon, widow, east, and Juliana Collys, west; which tenements lately were Thos. Besonds, of Wardington."  (Historical Notices of the Parish of Cropredy, Oxon, Rev. D. Royce)

"These townsmen wanted back their land to pay for the clock to be wound and bells rung and five trustees from the Bourton and Cropredy Bell Land trust were chosen to act on their behalf namely Thomas Smith, Will Newman, John Sherman, Roger Truste and Thomas Gubbyn. They presented a bill proving the land was the gift of Roger Lupton and Richard Skipwith and that "the premises came not, nor ought to come into the hand of the late king..." By 1553 catholic Mary was on the throne and she did allow land and grants to help many churches and by 1557 it was finally returned." (The Town of Cropredy, Keegan)

This John Shereman is likely John Sherman's father, also named John. There is a burial record for John Sherman on 29 October 1549 in Cropredy. There is also a burial record for Alys Sherman, who is likely the mother, on 24 July 1542 in Cropredy.

John Sherman was born in about 1480 of Cropredy. He married Alys. John died and was buried 29 October 1549 in Cropredy.

Burial record for John Sherman in Cropredy:
"John Sherman whas beryd the xxixth day of October"

Alys died and was buried 24 July 1542 in Cropredy.

Burial record for Alys Sherman in Cropredy:
"Alys Sherman whas beryd ye xxiiijth day of July"

John and Alys were most likely the parents of:

*1. John, born in about 1510 of Cropredy; married 1) Annes, 2) Alys; buried in 1559; will 1559.

Other Shermans found in early records:

• John Sherman left a will dated 1551, naming sons Thomas, Wyllym, and Henry, and daughters Margerye, Isabell and Annes. Wyllyam Gyll was an overseer for the will.
• Thomas Sherman, John's son was named as overseer in the will of Richard Denze in 1559.
• Henry Sherman, John's son left a will dated 1558, naming his brother Willyam, his brother Thomas, sister Agnes, and wife Agnes. Willm Lamprey was an overseer for the will 
  

Very early Shermans are found in the Poll Tax lists for Banbury:

1377 - Ricardus Schereman  4d

1379 - Richardus Shereman 4d

Another Sherman is found in Little Bourton and Hardwick:

1379 - Johannes Sherman

SOURCES: Cropredy parish register; Historical Notices of the Parish of Cropredy, Oxon, Rev. D. Royce, 1880; "The Town of Cropredy”, Pamela Keegan; will of John Sherman, dated 1551; will of Henry Sherman, dated 1558; The Poll Tax 1377, 1379 and 1381; Carolyn C. Fenwick.