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5. JAMES SHINN (2).--JOHN (1). James was probably the youngest of the children of John Shinn and was born in England. He lived longer than
any of his brothers and sisters and died in 1751 without a will. The same difficulty occurs in collating his children as happened in the collation of those of John, Jr. There are some things certain, however,
and from these authentic entities we shall be enabled to construct a solid foundation. On the very day that his sister Martha, accompanied by Joshua Owen, arose in meeting the second time and declared their intentions
of marriage (3rd of the 1st month, 1696-7, March 3, 1697), the membership was informed by some busy body that James Shinn and Abigail Lippincott had declared their intention to marry without coming before meeting. A
committee was appointed at once to speak to John Shinn and his good wife, Jane; Restore Lippincott and his good wife. Hannah; and the obstreperous young people, James Shinn, and his fiance, Abigail Lippincott. This
incident caused a great amount of talk throughout the community and led the committee to probe the matter to the bottom. On the 5th of the 2nd month, 1697, the Church was doubtless crowded to hear the result. The
committee reported that the young people were determined to marry, but not having their parents' consent they could not pass meeting. Old John Shinn and old Restore Lippincott walked out under a stately beech and began
a discussion of the question. Their wives soon joined them. and in a short time peace was restored and parental consent accorded. On the same day James and Abigail declared their intention to marry before the assembled
multitude and were applauded by the younger element who were in attendance. One month later they appeared the second time and were set at liberty by the Church. The marriage occurred shortly afterwards at the house of
Restore Lippincott in the presence of a large assembly of the first people of the community. Shortly after the wedding John Shinn conveyed to James one hundred and twenty-one acres of land in what is now
Nottingham Township (Liber B, 619) and the young people set up for themselves. During the same year he bought other lands of John Butcher (Liber B, 619), and in 1705 was made the sole legatce of the estate of his
brother, Francis. (See Francis Shinn.) In 1709 he purchased lands of John Garwood (Liber R, 431), and in May, 1712, his father-in-law, Restore Lippincott, conveyed him two hundred and twenty-three acres in Nottingham
Township (Liber D, 97). He afterwards became seized of large bodies of land in New Hanover Township (Liber S, 147) and in Ocean County. Abigail Lippincott, the wife of James, was a great attraction whether
considered from the standpoint or birth or of wealth. Her father, Restore Lippincott, was the third son of Richard Lippincott, the ancestor of the Lippincotts in America. From John Clement's First Settlers in Newton
Township we find that Richard emigrated from Devonshire, England, and that the family was one of the oldest in England. It has been traced authentically back to the Domeday Book, compiled in the days of the Conqueror.
Richard settled first at Boston, where he was made a freeholder in 1640. He afterwards moved to Dorchester and thence to England, where in 1653 his son Restore was born. In 1669 he moved from Plymouth, England, to
Shrewsbury, N. J. He was the largest shareholder in the company that colonized on Shrewsbury River, and became an active officer of the colony. Restore Lippincott, his son, married Hannah Shattock of Boston in 1674 and
removed to Northampton Township, Burlington County, where he became a wealthy and influential man. In 1703 and 1705 he became a member of the Governor's Council of West Jersey. John Clement says of him: "He was a
useful citizen, exemplary in all the relations of life, and much respected by the community on account of his regard for truth and justice." His children by Hannah Shattock were Samuel, Abigail, Hannah,
Hope, Rebecca, James, Elizabeth, Jacob and Rachel. James Shinn married Abigail, and George Shinn, son of John, Jr., married Elizabeth. The descendants of each of the other children of Restore married
descendants of the other children of John Shinn, Sr., so that there are few of the Shinn family in America without some admixture of Lippincott blood. And, strange to say, after Joshua Owen died and Hannah Lippincott
died, the widow, Martha (Shinn) Owen and Restore Lippincott formed an alliance and were married in 1729. From this match there were no children. It now remains for us to gather up the details of evidence
concerning the children of James and Abigail (Lippincott) Shinn, and tabulate them as accurately as may be. He left no will, which deprives us of one fruitful source of information. Turning to the church records we find
a number of recitals which are invaluable. 1. BURLINGTON MONTHLY MEETING RECORDS. First of 8th month, 1716, John Atkinson and Hannah, daughter of James Shinn, declared their intentions of marriage.
Second of 11th month, 1726, the overseers of the meeting reported that Joseph Shinn, son of James, had married a wife that was not a Friend. He married Mary Budd. Fourth month, 23rd day, 1720, at house of
James Shinn, Michael Atkinson, son of William, and Hope, daughter of James, were married. Witnesses, James and Abigail, Joseph and Mary Shinn, John, Joseph, Thomas, Hannah, Sarah Atkinson and thirty others. They passed
meeting 4/6/1720. Thirteenth of 8th month, 1729, Francis Shinn and Elizabeth Atkinson passed meeting. On Feb. 12, 1728, James Shinn of New Hanover deeded Francis Shinn, his son, the land he bought of Restore
Lippincott in 1712. (Liber A. R., p. 97.) Seventeenth of 3rd month, 1739, a certificate was recorded showing that Solomon Shinn, son of James, and Mary Antrim were married on that date. Witnesses, James and
Abigail, Clement, Joseph and Mary (Budd) Shinn, James and Hannah Shinn, Elizabeth Shinn and Caleb Shinn. Eighth of 10th month, 1739, report was made that James Shinn, Jr., and Hannah Shinn, being first cousins,
had lately married. The parents disclaimed knowledge, excepting Elizabeth, the mother of Hannah. Elizabeth was the widow of George Shinn. Ninth of 9th month, 1741, Clement Shinn of New Hanover, son of James,
and Elizabeth (Webb) Shinn sent in a paper condemning their disorderly proceeding in marrying out of meeting. In this list, by a strange fatality, three brothers and sisters of the name Atkinson, John, Michael
and Elizabeth, married three brothers and sisters of the name Shinn, Hannah, Hope and Francis, and still another brother of the Atkinson line married Mary Shinn, but not the daughter of James. From these facts
it is hardly questionable that the children of James and Abigail (Lippincott) Shinn were: 24. (1) Hannah, who married John Atkinson, 9/21/1716. |
