The Shaws began back in Scotland around 1740 when William Shaw was born. He married Margaret McShane and they had a son John who was born in 1776. John and his family emigrated to the United States and lived in Indiana.

     Many of the Shaws lived their whole life in Indiana, but Harris Fitch Shaw came to California to live and raise his family.

     There are Shaws in California, Oregon, and Indiana and one relative lived in Washington until his death in 1995.