• Born: 1775, Newport RI
• Marriage (1): Elizabeth Muchmore on 15 Jun 1802 in Newport RI
• Died: 27 Feb 1837, Currituck NC

  General notes:

Silversmith and watchmaker

  Events in his life were:

• Alternate Mark
  A tentative identification that has been proposed by others. I believe it is wrong. It is found on a pair of spoons, dating from the mid-1820s, with a known New Hampshire family history. By the time of their making, Shaw was working as an itinerant preacher in the Carolinas. John Adriance Storm is a more likely candidate.

• He was a partner circa 1802-1814 with Nicholas Geffroy in Newport RI as JOHN A. SHAW & Co. Shaw's dealings in the West Indies trade were hit hard by the War of 1812. After selling out to Geffroy, he eventually moved to North Carolina, where he established a lumber and merchantile company. When this venture failed, he became a Baptist minister. ⁴

• Advertised in the Newport Mercury (Newport RI), 11 May 1802, as JOHN A. SHAW & Co, announcing that they have "taken a shop next door but one North of th Coffee House, where the watch business is carried on and gold necklaces, silver tea- and tablespoons are sold; cash is given for old gold and silver." ³

• Advertised in the Newport Mercury (Newport RI), 6 Apr 1811, announcing the removal of his store to 109 Thames Street. ³

John married Elizabeth Muchmore on 15 Jun 1802 in Newport RI. (Elizabeth Muchmore was born in 1785 in Newport RI and died on 26 Aug 1829 in Columbia NC.)