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SHACKELFORD CLAN MAGAZINE
Genealogy of Shackelfords and Shacklefords
Editor: T. K. Jones 716 Ave. A Lubbock, Texas
$1.00 A Year Published Monthly 10c A Copy
Lubbock, Texas December 1948 Vol. 4. No. 8
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Motto: A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors, are not likely to achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants.
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MEET SOME MEMBERS OF THE CLAN
After leaving College Park, Ga., we went directly to Montgomery, Alabama. It had been our intention to visit again with our good friend--the Rev. Franklin Shackelford Moseley, pastor of The Chisholm Street Methodist Church. Bur due to our emergency return home earlier, and the time lost when our bag was stolen, we were running about two weeks late, so we had to forego our visiting, accomplish as much as we could in the time we had left and return home soon as possible.
But we are going to tell you about Rev. Moseley any way. Rev. Moseley is one of the finest Christian gentlemen that it has been our pleasure to meet. He is not only a minister, but takes more than usual interest in his genealogy. He has traveled over several States in search of genealogical information, not only of his Shackelford ancestors, but ancestors of his other lines as well. He is the historian for his branch of the family, the Shackelford family, has collected much data of other branches and other lines. And he, in collaboration with his uncle--the late Dr. Edward Madison Shackelford, compiled and published a history of their branch of the family, under the title of "George Shackelford-Annette Jeter and Descendants".
Then after the publication of the book he gave this writer all the data that he had collected
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and not used in their book. The quanity (sic) was of such volume that it required seven days to make copies of all of it.
In addition to this, we have had occasion to write Rev. Moseley for other information several times and have never failed to have a reply from him, and the information when he had it.
If all men were of the type of Rev. Moseley we would have already reached earthly utopia.
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Mississippi seems to have been a sort of a melting pot, a catch all, where Shackelfords are concerned. Therre came to Mississippi, Shackelfords from the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and perhaps other places. There seems to be at least a dozen branches of the families represented there. So it would be difficult the mention (sic) the many fine members of the Clan that call Mississippi home. So we shall confine our remarks to those that we met on our recent journey.
At Yazoo City we went to the court house the moment we arrived in town, not only did we want what information that we might find there, but we also wanted to meet the genial and affable clerk--Mr. David Seale Shackelford. And we are happy to say that we found him to be all that we had heard of him, and then some. After we had finished looking over the records in other offices we went back and spent some time visiting with Mr. Shackelford. He had previously sent us all the records in his office. He was in his office some two hours after closing time, and we enjoyed every minute of it. He offered every co-operation possible, and gave us added encouragement.
We also met his charming wife, and of course, we would not want to forget his splendid little grandson that came to help his grand dad get through his work a little sooner. We came away feeling that our time spent with Mr. Shackelford was more than well spent.
We spent the night in Yazoo city and early the
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next morning we set sail for the little village of Eden, ten miles north of Yazoo City. There we expected to see our good friend Mr. Irvin Miller Shackelford, Sr., and his son who bears the same name, his good wife and his brother-Mr.Walter M. Shackelford. We were not disappointed. It was a beautiful Sunday morning and as we approached we met Mr. Shackelford on his way to Sunday School. So we just made it our business to accompany him, and we can say that our day was well spent, particularly after listening to his exposition of the lesson, as he was the class teacher.
It was the third time that we have seen Mr. Irvin Shackelford, and he is one of those sort of men that every time you see him you wish you could know him better. After Sunday School his charming wife prepared a delicious lunch while we discussed the family history. We deeply regretted the fact that we could spend no more time than two or three hours in their home, but we had to push on; but feel that our time, though limited as it was, had been well accounted for. No one can spend any time around these good people without their life being enriched by so doing.
Mr. Irvin Miller Shackelford has the distinction of being only the third generation in his family since the creation of The United States. His grandfather was born 1769, his father in 1820, and he in 1877. Thus the three generations of them have lived during the entire life of The United States.
After leaving Mississippi we came home, so we saw no other members of the Clan. But we could not close this part of our subject without telling you of one other member that we have met at another time and under different circumstances.
It seems that the Shackelfords and their descendants have more than their share of lawyers, doctors, ministers, and public servants. A few years ago we were in Hamilton, Texas, looking for information of the Shockley family, the mother of whom was a Shackelford. And at Hamilton we
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met Mr. Price M. Rice, a very prominent lawyer of that City. Mr. Rice was practically reared in the court house at that place. His father, the late Mr. Rufus Price Rice, held public office in Hamilton County, Texas, for many years.
Mr. Rice enjoys a lucrative law practice, but alway finds time to talk to his friends. He is genial, affable, and as co-operative in helping others to solve their problems as any one we know. And he is intensely interested in the genealogy of his forbears, seeking information them, (sic) and equally as eager to pass that information along. We certainly wish that we knew more men like Mr. Price M. Rice, of Hamilton, Texas.
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We are happy to report that one brand new member of the Clan has put in her appearance. The charming little daughter Jean, arrived on this orb November 20, 1948, and will henceforth bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. James William and Adele Bergholm-Shackelford, of 803 West 12th St., Pine Bluff, Arkansas. At last report both mother and baby doing fine. Sincere congratulations.
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We shall now resume our report on the antics of Dan Cupid during the summer, as regards members of the Clan. All the following marriages were reported to us before our recent journey, but too late to get into the magazine before we left.
Miss Ava May, lovely daughter of Wiliam Frederick and Vera May Wilkerson-Shackelford, became the happy bride of Mr. Vernon Parson, in Oklahoma City, March 25, 1948. No further details were given.
Miss Helen Dykes, of Eucha, Oklahoma, became the
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bride of Mr. Rex Frederick Netherton, son of Mr. and Mrs. T.B. and Bessie Loribe Shackelford-Netherton, of Maysville, Arkansas, June 14, 1948. But again no further details.
Miss Hazel Margaret Snoddy, talented daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy and Maud Hazel Shackelford-Snoddy, of Gentry, Arkansas, was married to Mr. Louis Vena, of Columbus, Kansas, June 21, 1948. Mr. Roy Snoddy is now deceased, as we have noted, and Mr. M. H. Netherton is the step-father of Miss Hazel Margaret. No further details were shown of this marriage.
Then what will be of interest to our Clan members in Mississippi was the elaborate wedding of the lovely Miss Jean Davis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson Davis and Bessie Clay Overstreet-Shackelford, of Louisville, Miss., to Mr. Sidney Johnston Hendrix, Jr., of Dallas, Texas. The nuptials taking place in The First Baptist Church, in Louisville, August 8, 1948. After a brief honeymoon the happy newlyweds will be at home in Dallas, Texas.
And on behalf of the entire Clan we extend sincere congratulations and best wishes to each of them, for a long, happy and prosperous life together.
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"Harken to me--look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and the hole of the pit whence ye are digged" Isaiah, 51:1.
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Now we come to a problem that we are particularly anxious to solve, and will be extremely grateful for any help that any of you may render.
John Harris, born probably in Abbeville, S.C., August 5, 1798. Died 1876 in Talbot Co., Ga. He married Mary J. (Polly) Shackelford Dec. 6, 1820 in Elbert Co., Ga. She was born Oct. 15, 1796, probably in Elbert Co., Ga., and died in Talbot Co., Ga. Jan. 29, 1866. They had the folowing children:
Sarah A. E.---------------------(b. Oct. 30, 1821, died 1822)
Edmund S.----------------------(married Caroline Richardson)
Infant Daughter------------------(not named, died in infancy)
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John J. H.-----------------------(married Emily Hill)
William Lindsey Manning--------(married 1st Samantha Johnson and 2nd Sarah Frances Johnson)
Jane Amanda--------------------(married James M. Weaver)
Ezekiel A. J.---------------------(mar Willie G. Garrard)
Eliza E.--------------------------(married-----------------??)
Jesse Mercer--------------------(married-----------------??)
Carey Judson--------------------(married-----------------??)
Our problem here is to determine the parentage of Mary J. Shackelford, wife of John Harris. It has been thought that she was the daughter of Captain Edmund Shackelford and his wife Judith Eastin. (see Shackelford Clan Magazine for July 1947). But from information that we found on our recent journey we find that she was not a daughter of Edmund.
It will be seen by the Will of Capt. Edmund, a copy of which can be seen in the above mentioned magazine, that he named sons Phillip, Edmund, John, Reuben and Jefferson; and daughters Nancy Oglesby, Elizabeth Seale, Judith Alexander, Polly and Sally Shackelford. This Will was dated May 1, 1821, five months after the marriage of Mary J. Shackelford and John Harris, and the daughter Polly was referred to as Polly Shackelford, not Polly Harris. It will also be noted that he mentioned his married daughters by their married names.
The son Reuben, mentioned above, was born April 19, 1790. He died in Crawfordsville, Ga. June 10, 1837. He left a noncupative will in which he requested his sister--Mary Rawson, to take his two small sons--John and William, and to rear them with her own children. He also requested his brother Jefferson to take charge of his estate and do with it as he thought to the best advantage of his children. He did not mention a wife, so she was probably already deceased. His brother Jefferson and his sister-Mary Rawson were witnesses to the above mentioned noncupative Will.
The above mentioned John, son of Captain Edmund, was born in 1783. It is not definitely known if he ever married. One John Shackelford married Martha Oglesby, June 11, 1844, in Elbert county, Ga.
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But we did find that John, son of Captain Edmund, went to Jackson County, Ga., from Elbert County, where he became quite wealthy. He died intestate where in 1858. And in the settlement of his estate no wife or children were mentioned, indicating that his wife, if he ever married, was dead, and without issue. And in the settlement of his estate we find the following named legatees: Sarah E. Jefford; C. S. Reynolds, Judith Reynolds, Catherine Alexander, Mary Alexander, M. B. Hawkins, Ann O. Hawkins, W. E. Alexander, and Mordecai Alexander as guardian for Mordecai M., Sophar W. Alexander.(sic) The above legatees were represented by their attorney in fact--Mordecai Alexander, husband of Judith Alexander.
Also the following were legatees: Sarah A., wife of F. M. Gibbs; Martha A., wife of J. D. Phillips; B. B. Seale, William G., Judith G. H., and Elizabeth D. Jordan. John E., William J., E. C., Lloyd D., S. A., S. E., C. W., T. J., Saraah B., and E. H. Shackelford. Mary F. Rawsoh, Mary A. Clower, and Sarah W. Mills. Also James H. B. Shackelford.
S. P. Thurmond and Mary F. Rawson were administrators of the above estate, and the first return was made April 13, 1859. Jackson County, Ga.
We note by the above settlement that not a single Oglesby was mentioned, not a single Harris was mentioned either. But since we do not know the names of the Oglesby children, if any, it may be that the Jeffords, Gibbs, Phillips, Jordan or Mills families were Oglesby descendants. But they would not be Harris descendants, since we know who the Harris daughter married. So we are convinced that Mary J. (Polly) Shackelford, daughter of Captain Edmund was not the wife of John Harris, but the wife of a Rawson, probably Dr. Francis Rawson.
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Another family that originated in Elbert Co., Ga., and later moved to Talbot Co., Ga., was that of the William T. Thornton family, and probably related to the Harris family.
William T. Thornton, born Wilkes Co., Ga., August 14, 1800. Died in Talbot Co., Ga., January 15, 1847.
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He married Nancy Jane Shackelford in Elbert Co., Ga., July 20, 1826. She was born Oct. 5, 1805 and died in Talbot Co., Ga., August 23, 1867. Thay had the following children:
Singleton A.-------------(married Elizabeth Clements)
William Calloway--------(married Sarah A. Ellison)
Cornelia E.--------------(married Robert B. Woodall)
Nancy S.----------------(died in infancy)
Reuben T.---------------(maried Lucy Cameron)
Nancy Ann--------------(married 1st------------Hogg)
Jane Catherine-----------(married William P. King)
Henry Harrison----------(married Maggie Matthews)
Seaborn Webster--------(married Julia Weeks)
Carey Judson------------(married Emma ingram)
Beverly Wright-----------(never married)
It will be noted that in both the Thornton and Harris families there was one named Carey Judson, which may or may not indicate a relationship. But since Mary Shackelford-Harris was born 1796, and Nancy Jane Shackelford-Thornton, 1805, they may have been sisters. They married in the same County, and later moved to the same County, in a different section of the State than where they married.
We would be very grateful if any one could and would send us the parentage of these two women.
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Since this is the month of December we feel that it is fitting and proper that we make mention of the season. "And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord"-Luke, 2:10-11.
So at this season of the year may we all be ever mindful of the admonition of the angels,"--and on earth peace, good will toward men". May each of us pray for, work for and strive to that end. May we be imbued with the spirit of the occasion to the fullest.
Wishing each and every one of you a wonderful Yuletide, and a happy and prosperous New Year.
Until next month, Adios--The Editor.
Transcribed by Alex Early May 26, 1998
UpdatedThursday, 01-May-2008 16:49:41 EDT