18. DEA. NATHAN3 SHED (6. Nathan2, Daniel1), was born in Billerica, Mass., 23 May 1695. Being the eldest son of a large family, on becoming of age he left the paternal roof, soon married, and was probably assisted by his father in establishing a new home of his own. It appears that he settled in the northern portion of the old town of Billerica, for a few years later he was among the prominent settlers in that section who sought to be separated from the parent town, that they might avoid the trouble of attending church several miles away "upon the hill." When they were finally successful and had been set off as the separate town of Tewksbury in 1734, he took a prominent part in public matters. Rev. Sampson Spalding of Chelmsford was chosen the pastor of the new church at Tewksbury 10 Jan 1736/7, at the first regular church meeting held; and Nathan Shed and his brother-in-law Daniel Kittredge were chosen deacons, and their signatures stand first in the list of members recorded in the old church records of Tewksbury still preserved by its clerk.
The first general town meeting held in Tewksbury 14 Jan. 1734/5 resulted in the choice of Lieut. Daniel Kittredge, James Hunt, Jr., Joseph Kittredge, John French, and Nathaniel Patten as selectmen; Nathaniel Patten as town clerk; Edward Frost as constable; and Nathan Shed as town treasurer, in which office he continued until 1740/1, when he was succeeded by Lieut. William Brown. The town records also show that Daniel Kittredge was moderator till 1741 and frequently one of the selectmen, and that Dea. Nathan Shed was chosen a selectman in 1741. The latter received 10 shillings for perambulating the town lines in June 1745; the same year his minister's rate was £1-2-7 and town tax 12s. 6d. Dea. Shed received £3 for "Boarding ye School master Bradstreet two weeks," Sept. 12, 1749.
Dea. Nathan3 Shed died in Tewksbury 31 Dec. 1773, aged seventy-eight years. He left no will and no administration was taken out on his estate; he had apparently settled his homestead on his eldest surviving son John Shed under condition of life maintenance for himself and wife, as appears from the probate papers on the estate of the son John4 Shed who died about a year after his father.
Dea. Nathan3 Shed married at Billerica in Nov. 1717, his cousin Hannah3 Shed, born there 23 Mar. 1693/4, daughter of Ens. John2 and Sarah (Chamberlain) Shed; she d. in Tewskbury 6 Sept. 1775, aged eighty-one years.
