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William Sheerer collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: S2293

Scope and Contents

This collection includes William Sheerer's two pocket-sized bank books containing entries ranging from 1867 to 1878 and a small account book used to record entries related to Kimball Watson from 1871 to 1872 and the giving out of Bibles in 1877[?]. Other items in the collection include a document with a description of land sold to Watson by Sheerer in 1870 and recorded on June 7, 1878, a March 31, 1879 letter sent to A. Lowry Shannon, Sheerer's executor, from W.J. Park of Hoopeston, Illinois regarding a note due, and a May 12, 1879 letter sent by Kimball Watson authorizing Shannon to pay the amount due on three of his fee bills.

Dates

  • 1867-1879

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Biographical Note

William Sheerer (sometimes spelled Shearer) was born March 17, 1794 in Ireland. He and William Watson received a land patent for 40 acres in Morgan County, Indiana in 1837. On the 1850 census he and his wife, Barbara, are listed as living in Jefferson Township, Morgan County and his occupation is listed as farmer. Kimball G. Watson, possibly the child of William Watson, is also listed as part of the family. By 1860, the Sheerers and Kimball were living in Kent Township, Jefferson County and Sheerer was listed as a retired merchant. Following Barbara's death in 1871, Sheerer married Mary Miller in December 1872. He died at the age of 84 on April 9, 1878 and was buried in the Carmel Associate United Presbyterian Cemetery with his surname spelled "Sheerar" on the headstone.

Sources:

Ancestry.com. "William Shearer." 1850 United States Federal Census. Accessed March 17, 2022. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "William Shearer." 1860 United States Federal Census. Accessed March 17, 2022. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "William Sheerer." Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "William Sheerer." Indiana, U.S., General Land Office Records, 1776-2015. Accessed March 17, 2022. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Ancestry.com. "William Sheerer or Shearer." Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001. Accessed March 17, 2022. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

FindaGrave.com. "William Sheerar." Find a Grave Memorial ID 74389480. Accessed March 17, 2022. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74389480/william-sheerar.

Extent

0.02 Cubic Feet (2 folders)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically.

Custodial History

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing completed 2022/03/17 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid created 2022/03/17 by Laura Eliason.
Title
William Sheerer collection
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671