I have a theory about the name. Perhaps someone can support it. Have seen it spelled Shearman's Valley. Could it be occupationally related? I have also read that Perry County was a place to take cattle flocks (sheep and cows) during the war (F&I, Revolution?) to keep them safe. Kathy

Shearman was definitely used as an alternate spelling. Here are just some of early references using the spelling of "Shearman" - all involving my husband's ancestors. I also notice that the name Shearman's Creek appears on a 1792 map. 1. "History and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams and Perry Counties" by I. Daniel Rupp; Gilbert Hills, Pub, Lancaster, 1846. Chapter 24, History of Cumberland County, p 382. Letter of Richard Peters, Secretary of Pennsylvania to James Hamilton, Esq., Governor of Pennsylvania. "Mr. Weiser and I have received your Honor's orders to give information to the proper magistrate against al such as had presumed to settle and remain on the lands beyond the Kittochtinny mountains not purchased of the Indians, in contempt of the laws repeatedly signified by proclamations and particularly by your Honor's last one, and to bring them to a legal conviction, lest for want of their removal a breach should ensue between the Six Nations of Indians and this Province. We set out on Tuesday, the 15th of May 1750 for the new county of Cumberland, where the places on which the trespassers had settled, lay. (Long section about the trip and various meetings, and other settlers who were not in compliance) "On Wednesday the 30th of May, the magistrates and company, being two days detained by rain, proceeded over the Kittochtinny mountains and entered into the Tuscara (Tuscarora) Path or Path Valley, through which the road to Allegheny lies. Many settlements were formed in this valley and all the people were sent for, and the following persons appeared, viz: Abraham Slach, James Blair, Moses Moore, Arthur Dunlap, Alexander McCartie, David Lewis, Adam McCartie, Felix Doyle, Andrew Dunlap, Robert Wilson, Jacob Pyatt, Jacob Pyatt, Jr, Wiliam Ramage, Reynolds Alexander, Samuel Patterson, Robert Baker, John Armstrong, and John Potts, who were all convicted by their own confessions to the magistrates, of the like trespasses with whose and Shearman's creek and were bound in like cognizances to appear at court, and bonds to the Proprietaries to remove with all their families, servants, cattle and effects, and, having all voluntarily gives possession of their houses to me, some ordina! ry log houses, to the number of eleven, were burnt to the ground; the trespassers most of them cheerfully and a very few of them with reluctance, carrying out all their goods. 2. Cumberland County Vital Records: Marriages: ELLIOTT: John of Lewistown and Jane Power, daughter of William of Shearman's Valley, 21 Dec 1791 3. Franklin County Deeds. DB 4, pg 421-3. 27 Nov 1795. Christopher Bower of Shearman's Valley, Cumberland County, and wife Mariah to John Creamer, land on Conodoguinit Creek in Letterkenny and Lurgan Townships, formerly in Cumberland, now in Franklin. Neighbors: Michael Rine, Peter Shearer, Mr. Davis, John Rode, John Creamer. Part of 733 acres and 97 perches which Robert Jones, William Jones and Loyd Jones by their certain indentures made their hands and seals dated 25 Apr 1782 conveyed to Peter Shearer and his heirs and assignees. Signed Christoper Bower (in German Script), Mariah (her mark) Bower. [Note: Her mark looks like a capitial "E" turned clockwise 90 degrees] Wit: George Shearer, Dewalt Kiefer. Recorded 10 Feb 1796. 4. Cumberland County Will Abstracts RAMSEY, JAMES, Carlisle. April 5, 1796. February 27, 1797. Wife Margaret. Son David, minor. Dau. Rebecka Ramsey. Samuel Greer, late of Carlisle. Granddau. Violetta Jackson, dau. of Samuel Jackson. Plantation in Shearman's Valley. All my children. Exs.: Wife Margaret, my (son?) James Ramsey and son-in-law Samuel Jackson. Wit.: Joseph Young, W. Alexander, John McCoy. Codicil January 18, 1797. Grandchildren Ezra Jackson Ramsey, James R. Dixon and Violetta Jackson. F. 64- 65.