James Shaw Jr. was born September 1830 in Providence, Rhode
Island
Father James Shaw
b-1801 d-27 March 1880
(City of Providence Deputy Tax Collector/Account)
Mother Elizabeth F. Shaw
b-1802 d-20 February 1879
(Home Maker).
He was eldest brother to four other children;
Richard
b-1832
John P.
b-1834 d-12 May 1864
Served with the 2nd RIDM as Lieutenant from 7th August 1861 until he
lost his life in the battle of the Wilderness,Va.
Anna F.
b-1841
Frederick
b-1845
James Jr. meet and married Elizabeth W. Fisher
(b-January 1832, d-25 March 1915)
on 22 September 1853 in the city of Providence, their children are as
follows;
James H. Shaw b-06 August 1854 d-09 September 1915
Walter A. Shaw b-26 October 1870 d-03 May 1873
Howard A. Shaw b-25 April 1872 d-22 December 1894
His wife Elizabeth passed on
25 March 1915 at age 83
James Jr. was listed as a Jeweller prior to the outbreak of war, from
1850-1862. In early 1861 he was instrumental in the organization of ward companies to be formed thru out Providence.
On 14 May 1861 he was elected 1st Lieutenant of the sixth ward company
with 80 members.
On the 13th of September 1861 when Capt. H.T.Grant resigned James Jr.
was elected to fill his post as Captain.
With the State Central Military Committee's call for the formation of
The National Guard of Rhode Island on the 25th of Sepember 1861, Capt. Shaw was appointed acting Colonel and took command
of the guards, this rank was made official 23 December 1861.
On 25 May 1862, the Tenth Regiment Rhode Island Infantry Volunteers
was being formed to answer the call from Washington D.C. Col. James Shaw Jr. was offered the Command of the unit, but
declined too give command to Col. Zenas R. Bliss who had miliatry training as a field commander, he became Lt.Col. of the
10th and took them to Washington D.C. on the 27th of May 1862. He was promoted to Full Colonel on 11 August 1862 and mustered
out with the 10th Reg RI Inf on 01 September 1862 in Providence, RI.
His military service had just begun,
On 31 December 1862 he was commissioned Lt. Col. 12th Reg Rhode
Island Infantry (9 month unit) he mustered out on the 29th of July 1863.
On 27 October 1863 he was appointed Colonel of the 7th United States
Colored Troops and mustered in as such on 14 November 1863 in which he served with great distinction and honor which brought
about his promotion to Brevet Brig-General on 13 March 1865. He mustered out of the 7th on13 October 1866 in Indianola, Texas.
He returned to his family and friends in Rhode Island shortly after.
He was seen as a Gas Burner Manufactor in 1870 living at 45 Parade Street Providence,RI he left the Providence Gas Co. in
1892 to work as an Architect at 65 Westminister Street Room #32 and lived at 17 Arlington Avenue Providence, RI.
In 1896 James and Elizabeth moved to 107 Govenor Street on the east side of Providence,RI where he remained until he death on
21 October 1906, He is believed to be buried in Pocasset Cemetery in Cranston, RI.
