Meet the Ancestors: John Shaw

Shaw House on State Circle

John Shaw (1745-1829)

John Shaw was born in Scotland and immigrated to Annapolis in 1763. By all accounts, he apprenticed as a cabinetmaker before becoming a journeyman and worked for James Brice in a variety of construction projects. In 1772, he went into partnership with Archibald Chisholm, another Scotsman, and their shop became the largest cabinetmaker in Annapolis. Their partnership ended in 1776, when they each started their own shops. John was considered the foremost cabinetmaker in Annapolis due to his designs that crossed Chippendale with Federalist styles.

John and his wife, Elizabeth Deeble Shaw, had ten children, but his will lists just five surviving children. In 1784, he bought the house at 21 State Circle, which served as his workshop as well as his home. With the completed construction of the State House, he became its unofficial caretaker, and his shop provided most of the furniture for the legislative chambers. His most significant commission was for 24 mahogany armchairs and 11 desks for the Senate, but he built furniture for private homes as well. Examples of his work may be seen today at the Hammond-Harwood House and at Winterthur.

Aside from his work as a cabinetmaker, Shaw was the state armorer and contractor for other public buildings, including St. Anne’s, where he was an active member of the church. He is also remembered for designing the “Shaw Flag”, which flew over the State House during the resignation of George Washington as Commander in Chief in 1783 and during the ratification of the Treaty of Paris. It had been commissioned by the governor of Maryland for when the US Congress was to meet at the Maryland State House from November 26, 1783 to June 3, 1784.

John Shaw died on January 26, 1829, at the age of 83. In his will, he made provisions for his son, George, to inherit his shop and businesses and divided the estate among his remaining children with provisions to care for their mother in the house on State Circle. Specific enslaved members of his household were also divided among his children.