- Abraham was a clothier by occupation—a clothier is defined as someone
who sells or makes cloth or clothing.
He was also involved in “mining activities” in the village of
Northowram. Abraham signed agreements with John Booth of Northowram
(20 March 1635, re: “coal mining in Northowram”), John Farrar of
Eyewood (7 Aug 1633, re: “coal mining in Hipperholme and Sowerby”),
George Denton of Halifax (10 May 1634) & Joseph Lister of Northowram
(10 June 1635).
They left England & moved to the Massachusetts Bay Colony Abt. 1635.
Abraham and Bridget came to the Massachusetts Bay Colony with their
children around 1635 and first settled in Watertown. After their house
and goods burnt in October 1636, the Shaw family moved to Dedham, MA.
Abraham was an incorporator of Dedham and signed the town covenant.
He was elected freeman on 9 March 1636/37.
During the first year of Dedham®s settlement, Abraham proposed the
erection of a watermill for the purpose of grinding corn. The town
granted him about 70 acres of land. On 12 Feb 1636/37, he was
granted permission by the town to build a corn mill. Abraham chose a
site along the Charles River, but unfortunately died in 1638, leaving
his work largely unfinished.
Abraham made his will in November of 1638. In 1639, the Shaw family
sold the estate in Dedham and moved about 10 miles east to Weymouth.