Good day,
Been looking into Algerman's origin story. Seems like there are two Algerman S. Shaws around the same time period. One who died in Nova Scotia, Canada and one who originated in upstate NY. I don't think these are one and the same person. The distance between Iliinois and Nova Scotia, Canada doesn't make any sense and there are relationships for the Canadian Algerman which don't match up.
Here's my best guess. There is a Henry Shaw and Sarah Malone from Stonington, New London. CT. He died in Talcottsville, Lewis County, NY with family raised in Herkimer County, NY. Henry has a son, Orasmus Aramus Shaw. Algerman names one of his sons Orsamus. This might be a coincidence. Although, I don't think that was a popular name. It probably comes from Erasmus (Greek for Beloved). I think that Algerman named one of his sons after his uncle. One of his daughters is named Sarah. Although, that is indeed a common name for the time.
The distance between Herkimer County, NY and Stonington, New London. CT is roughly 228 miles. Then from Herkimer, NY to Whiteside County, Illinois, its a whopping 838 miles. But, it's a beeline straight path out West. So, not too unusual for the western migration in terms of distance.
Please let me know if you have any info contrary to this theory. To complicate matters more, there are multiple Henry Shaws (father of Algerman), one in Georgia who has been implicated as his father. That location makes no sense at all to me.
Thanks! Mike (fourth GGrandson)
