Neal Shaw probably was born in the 1730s. He may have been the son of John and Sarah Shaw.

Early in 1758, he was issued a marriage license to wed Mary Decline (de Klein). They were still together in 1777 when they witnessed a baptism in Albany. We seek additional church and family information for him!

By the 1760s, his name began to appear on affidavits in New York and in the Albany area where he was identified as a ropemaker. In 1767, his first ward house and property were included on the Albany assessment roll. His city holdings were valued at a fairly substantial twelve pounds.

Over the next decades, he continued to make and sell rope. He also was identified as an innkeeper in Rensselaerswyck - perhaps in association with innkeeper and landholder Hugh Denniston.

Although he was called before Albany committees during the War for Independence, he was allotted a land bounty right for service in conjunction with the Albany city regiment of the county militia. In 1777, his "place" in or near Albany was referenced by the Albany committee.

By the late 1780s, the name of Neal Shaw had dropped from Albany rolls.

Sources: The life of Neal Shaw is CAP biography number 1124. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.