Godfrey Shew immigrated from Germany by way of Rotterdam and England, to Philadelphia in the British Colony of Pennsylvania arriving October 23, 1752 .

Although it was not his intention to remain in America, when he left home, after such extreme suffering he resolved when he reached New York "never to cross the ocean again".

In 1862 or 1863 they removed to Johnstown, Tryon County, NY as tenant farmers for Sir William Johnson, British Indian agent for New York.

From their son Jacob Shew's Revolutionary War Pension application:  "Some eight years previous to the commencement of the Revolutionary War, Godfrey Shew, (this applicant's father) with his family, removed from Johnstown to a place called Sacandaga at that time; which place is now called Fish-house in the Town of Northampton, on the west branch of the Hudson's river, about eighteen miles from Johnstown."

About 1770 "They built the first house (log) in this village in the north end of the lot wh ere the Methodist Church now stands."