“James Henry son of Ricd Sherwood was bornd the 29 day of october 1835” [Minter-Durham family Bible at the Virginia State Archives, Acc. 26856]

1840 U.S. Census for Essex County, Virginia:
Shearwood, Richard
1 male under 5 [this could be James]
2 males 15-20 1 male 20-30 [this would be Richard]
1 female under 5 [this could be Mary]
1 female 20-30 [this would be Lucy]

1850 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia
Page 71
Dwelling 93, Family 93
Shearwood, Richard, 39, bricklayer, born in Virginia
Shearwood, Lucy, 38, born in Virginia
Shearwood, James, 15, born in Virginia, in school
Shearwood, Mary, 13, born in Virginia, in school
Shearwod, Ann, 10, born in Virginia, in school
Shearwood, Lucy, 9, born in Virginia, in school
Shearwood, Margaret, born in Virginia, 6
Shearwood, Thursday, born in Virginia, 2

1860 U.S. Census for Essex County, Virginia:
Dwelling 828, Family 803
Shearwood, Lucy, 45, farmer, $500 real estate, $915 personal estate
Shearwood, Mary, 22
Shearwood, James, 21
Shearwood, Fannie, 19
Shearwood, Lucy, 16
Shearwood, Ella, 12
Shearwood, Thyna, 10
Shearwood, Richard, 7

Shearwood, James H.: Farmer in Essex Co. Enl. 5/21/61 in Co. A, aged 26. Promoted to corporal, 5/1/62. Reduced to the ranks 6/1/62. Absent sick 6/26/62-summer/62. Present then until he deserted at Chancellorsville, 5/1/63. Gave himself up to the enemy at Aquia Creek, 5/11/63. Took the Oath 5/30/63 and was taken to Philadelphia and released. [Richard O’Sullivan, 55th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Virginia: H. E. Howard, Inc., 1989), 150.]

James H. Shearwood married Adeline Brizendine on 15 November 1866 in Essex County, Virginia. He was 31; she was 24. Both were single (not widowed), were born and living in Essex County, Virginia. He was a farmer. His parents were Richard Shearwood and Lucy Ann Boughan; hers were Bevan Brizendine and Elizabeth Allen. H. P. Mitchell performed the ceremony. [Essex County, Virginia, Marriage Register 1, page 15, entry 134.]