SHIRBURNE, John

Variations of spelling this name in old Winthrop and Readfield records include: Shirburne, Shurborn, Shurburne, Sherburn, and Shurburn.[i] Tracking information about this family is challenging because of the various spellings. The same stands true for the Shepard family into which two the Shurborn sons married. They were also neighbors.

John Shirburne was born in 1714 in Epping, NH. He married twice – both times in Portsmouth, NH. M1.1736 to Sarah Mason d/o Samuel and Rebecca Manson of Portsmouth. She b.1721 and d.abt 1743 in Portsmouth. John Shirburne m2.abt 1745 to Miriam Shortridge.

The Sherburne homestead on Hoyt Hill Road (currently
the Gay Road) was built c1788.

Shirburne and two of his sons – Job and Richard - came to Winthrop (now East Readfield) c1788. John gained ownership of lot#244 that same year.[ii] One year after their arrival John died and Richard received part of his father’s property.[iii] The remainder – 120 acres – remained with the original homestead and is located in East Readfield on Hoyt Hill Road (currently Gay Road). The farmhouse is still standing and believed to have been built by Job c1788.



This section of an 1856 map of East Readfield shows the
location of the Sherburne homestead, which was located on
Hoyt Hill Road (now Gay Road) which ran between
Dudley Plains (Plains) Road and Gordon Road (route 135 N).

John Shirburne is buried in Dudley Plains Cemetery as is his son Job and their wives.[iv] His tombstone is thought by some to be one of, if not the oldest, formal stone (not fieldstone) in Readfield. Inscribed on his tombstone: Here is interred the body of Mr. John Shirburne who departed this life Sept 13th 1789 in the 76th year of his aege. Hark from the Tomb.[v] 

 The original homestead remained in the family for 137 years and five generations: John, Job, Thomas, Llewellyn and the last family member to own it was Thomas Eugene. In 1925 Thomas Eugene sold to Fred Chadburne[vi]; in 1926 Chadburne sold to Harry Gay.[vii] Since that time the house has been known as “the Gay house.” The west end of Hoyt Road – the only section that remains open - is now called Gay Road.

Below are pictures of the Sherburne homestead taken c1960 when owned by Harry and Lila Gay. 

Children of John and Sarah (Mason) Shirburne:[viii]

1. Rebecca b.1737
2. Polly b.1739
3. Jane b.1741
4. Elizabeth b.1742
5. Sally b.1743

Children of John and Miriam (Shortridge) Shirburne:

6. Henry b.1745
7. Mary b.1746
8. Sarah b.1751
9. Job b.1757 d.1847 Readfield m.Hannah Elliott
10. Richard b.abt.1758
11. Abigail

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[i]  To Those Who Led the Way: VR’s of Readfield, ME 1768-1913; self pub. Dale Potter Clark 2009; pages various

[ii] Readfield Historical Society collection; Kennebec County Registry of Deeds Plan Book 3

[iii] Kennebec County Registry of Deeds; Lincoln County Deeds Book 28 Page 184

[iv] 1856 Kennebec County map and atlas

[v] Readfield cemetery inscriptions and listings in possession of Dale Potter Clark 2013

[vi] Kennebec County Registry of Deeds; Book 628 Page 300 September 5, 1925

[vii] Ibid Book 700 Page 189 5/1/1926

[viii] www.ancestry.com various files accessed 7/8/2013