History and Genealogy of the Shreve Family

The history of the Shreve Family in America is a long and illustrious one. Spanning nearly 400 years, beginning with the founding of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts. The Shreve Family has witnessed the major religious, political and military events of this Nation. Many early Shreve families were Quakers. Later, when the War for Independence began, the family joined the cause. The family contributed several well-known figures to the war, including Colonel Israel Shreve and Captain Richard Shreve. Later, the Shreve family showed it could not only fight, it could also think. Perhaps one of the best-known figures in Shreve history is Henry Miller Shreve, an early inventor of steamboats and founder of the City of Shreveport, Louisiana. Henry used a snag boat, one of his inventions, he cleared the Great Red River Raft. In the 19th Century the Shreve Family also contributed to the great economic development of the country. From ports in Massachusetts, Captain Benjamin Shreve and others set sail in tall sailing ships to carry goods to distant ports. Scions of this Massachusetts branch of the family founded famous silver, jewelry and mercantile enterprises in Boston and San Francisco. Many other family members received law degrees from Harvard Law School as well as. served as representative for their district in Congress.