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SHACKLEFORD CLAN MAGAZINE
Genealogy of the Shackelfords and Shacklefords
Editor: T. K. Jones, 251 Morgan St., Versailles, Ky
$1.00 a year. Published monthly. 10¢ a copy.
Versailles Ky. June 1954. Vol. 10. No. 2
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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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GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH # 6.
In the May issue we told you of the valuable records to be found in the various courts.
But there is one thing that we have failed to mention thus far. Many of the old court records do not have indexes, and a search of them is a long drawn out painstaking task. There are two things that one must bear in mind: First, if you are doing your own work it will require time and perseverance. Never expect to find your ancestor in a few hours, or even a few days. Bear in mind always, that in many cases records have been destroyed in the very place that you had hoped to find the desired information. But do not give up at this point, you may find it elsewhere. Keep looking, let persistence be your chief guide and motto.
Second: If you engage the services of an experienced genealogist it is well to remember that it may require much time and effort on his part too, so be prepared to spend some money. Just remember that his or her time is valuable also, and their time is just as valuable when they fail to find the desired information as it is when they come up with exactly what you wanted them to find.
And another thing to remember is, that should you desire the services of an experienced genealogist it is important that you give him or her all the
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information that you possibly can. That will serve to simplify the problems for the genealogist, and prove more economical for you.
Then, can you stand a little ridicule? Some of your relatives and close friends will think you have, in the language of slang, lost your marbles, particularly when you spend some good money for the information of those long since departed from these earthly scenes.
And remember too, that when you begin this ancestor hunting you may be in for some surprises, you may expect to find royalty back there some place, and it is possible that that you may find it, but always expect the worse and hope for the best. And it is not always safe to expect that your forbears were always at the top of the heap, someof them may have been on the lower rung of the ladder. There are many men and women that even now, are not as discreet as they could be, and that has always been so. So never be surprised or disappointed when you find a few black sheep along the way.
And it might be well to mention here too, that among the very old records an illegitimate child is often mentioned, and in many cases was taken from the mother and, according to the wording of the old records "bound out". But a study of the old records will prove that they were not always illegitimate. Until after the Revolution marriages performed by any other than a minister or the established church was not recognized, but to all intents and purposes the marriage was legal and the children legitimate. So keep that in mind and in all probability you will have less embarrassment.
Another thing that we had forgotten to mention is the condition of the early census records. The first census was in the year 1790. But many of the records of the first census were destroyed, so in a few States the first tax lists have been substituted. But in that case they show only the names of the property owners. Then after that and until 1850, only the head of the house was shown. The name of the wife was never shown unless a widow.
(continued next month)
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"Character is wealth whether accompanied by cash or not" -- Cresap Bulletin
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We regret to say that some of you are allowing your subscriptions to lapse. We usually carry over for a period of six months or perhaps longer, but in the future those who have not renewed their subscriptions within three months after expiration date will be dropped from our subscription list. We hope you will not allow this to happen.
This month we are happy to welcome Mrs Helen Hare-Cole, of Jackson, Miss., and Mr John F. Morrison, Jr, of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., as new subscribers and to thank them for their orders for a complete set of all back numbers. We hope to be able to send you the back numbers at a very early date.
We also wish to thank the following persons for subscription renewals: Mrs Blanche G. Dickson, of Brownsville, Texas.; Mr Maynard L. Richardson, of Franklin, Indiana.; Mr Odis Shackelford, of Nashville, Tenn.; Mr B. L. Shackelford of Waynesboro, Va.; Miss Mildred Murphy, two years, of Long Beach, Calif.; Mrs A. C. Ellis, of Los Gatos, Calif.; Mrs R. M. Tichenor, of Scotch Plains, N. J.; Miss Emma Coons of Lexington, Ky.; and Mrs Eula Moore Richardson, of Bentonia, Miss. To all of whom we say again "Thanks a Million, we appreciated this and hope to be able to merit your confidence.
Mrs Eula Moore-Richardson's renewal was for two years.
We are also deeply grateful for additional information passed along by the following persons: Mrs George Fisher, of Lexington, Tenn.; Mrs Willie Mae King, of Columbus, Miss.; Mr Maynard L. Richardson, of Franklin, Ind.; Mr B. L. Shackelford, of Waynesboro, Va.; Mrs Helen Hare-Cole, of Jackson, Miss.; Miss Mildred Murphy , of Long Beach, Calif.; Mr John P. Morrison, Jr, of Lawrenceburg, Tenn.; Mrs Ethel Brooks Gilmore, of Ranger, Texas.; Mrs Earl W. Huggins, of Holts Summitt, Mo.; and Mr J. B. Johnson of Lexington, Ky. Thanks a million, 'tis you that has made it possible for us to keep going, now in our tenth year.
We would like now to bring you up to date with the
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family news, and to begin with we will introduce four new members of the Clan. There were others but our correspondents failed to give us enough of the details for us to publish them. But our introductions will have to be short as we are short of space this month.
Kenneth Ray, a lusty little son arrived at the home of Mr and Mrs Thomas Vests, of Lexington, Tenn., March, 16, 1954. Mr and Mrs Edward Sego, of Lexington, Tenn., are the maternal grand parents.
Thomas Harold, another husky, of the masculine gender, arrived March, 14, 1954, and the proud parents are Mr and Mrs J. Frank (Jack) Lewis. Paternal grand parents are Mrs Ada Shackelford-Lewis, of Jackson, Tenn., and the late Mr Grover Hart Lewis.
Bruce Wayne, the third member of the Masculine gender this time, arrived at the home of Mr and Mrs H. B. and Betty Shackelford-Vance, of Birmingham, Alabama, March, 26, 1954.
Shirley Ruth, the only little lady this time, arrived at the home of Mr and Mrs Cleavey Davis, of Lexington, Tenn., March, 30, 1954. Paternal grandparents are Mr and Mrs Will and Fanny Shackelford-Davis, also of Lexington, Tenn.
And on behalf of the entire Clan may we extend our very best wishes to all babies and parents.
But this month deaths far out numbered the births in our reports, and we are saddened to have to report the death of seven of our number.
Miss Ruth Annetta Sloan, born the daughter of James William and Sarah Briggs-Sloan, at Franklin, Ind., July, 29, 1881. Died at the home of her sister in Birmingham, Alabama, December 8, 1953. Survivors include one sister, one niece, one nephew and a host of other relatives. She was a grand daughter of Harvey and America White Shackelford-Sloan, and she as never married.
Mrs Lossie Mae Shackelford, wife of John B. Shackelford, of Brosville, Pittsylvania County, Va., age 52 years, died February, 5, 1954. Survivors include her husband, mother, ten sons and five daughters. We would be grateful for additional infor-
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mation of this branch of the family.
George Washington Shackelford of Deltaville, Middlesex County, Va., age 89 years, died March, 12th, 1954. Survivors include his widow, two daughters, four sons, twenty one grand children, seventeen great grand children, and one great great grand child. We also need and will appreciate additional information of this branch of the family.
Emma Watson Dunlap, born the daughter of Lindsey W. and Mary C. Bower-Watson, February, 5, 1871. She finished her earthly chores March, 28, 1954. She was the widow of Fred Dunlap, who was a grandson of Harvey and America White Shackelford-Sloan. The place and survivors not mentioned by our informant.
Robert M. Tichenor, husband of Mrs Annetta T. Tichenor, of Scotch Plains, N. J., died April, 10, 1954., after an illness of four and one half years. No other details were shown or mentioned.
Jack Stubblefield Johnson, was born the son of William Sidney and Clara Wisdom-Johnson, of Winchester, Ky., July 1, 1878. Died at Lexington, Ky., April, 30, 1954. He was married to Jennie Hiale, date not shown, to whom were born two daughters and three sons. He was a retired school teacher and government employee. Survivors include two daughters, two sons, three sisters, one brother, five grand children, and a host of other relatives.
William Thomas Coons was born the son of William Darnaby and Mary Bruce O'Toole'-Coons, April, 11, 1890. He died at the Good Samaritan Hospital, Lexington, Ky., June, 1, 1954. He married Virginia Katherine Martin, February, 15, 1936, to which union were born two sons. In addition to his widow and two sons he is survived by one sister, three brothers and a host of other relatives.
And to all the bereaved we extend our deepest sympathy, and may the Lord bless each of you in your hours of sorrow.
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Before beginning with more records we would like to say that we now have the pleasure of being in communication with Miss Mildred Murphy, of Long
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Beach, Calif., and Mr John F. Morrison, Jr, of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., both of whom are working like a hive of honey bees in an effort to assemble and compile a history of the ancestry and descendants of their ancestors, including Henry Guthrie and his wife -- Nancy Ann Shackelford, who married in Madison County, Kentucky, in 1796.
Miss Murphy has already published a book on these people, but now in collaboration with Mr Morrison, is working to compile additional data in order to publish a larger and more complete history of them. And ye Editor is going to chip in his two cents worth wherever he can. And we would like to take this opportunity to thank any of you in advance if you have, or if you know of any one that has, additional information on these lines that will help, to get in touch with this writer, Mr Morrison or Miss Murphy. They will be grateful we know, and so will we.
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In our May issue we were discussing the Shackelfords of Richmond County, Va, And we shall continue that discussion now.
As was seen in the May issue, Richard Shackelford had or mentioned three sons. But as we pointed out, there was a Richard, Jr. He must have been a son, too, as he appeared on the tax list in the home of Richard, Sr. But what we gave you then is all we know.
He mentioned his son -- Clement. Clement died before Feb, 5, 1816, for we find that he is deceased, and Vincent Shackelford appointed administrator for his estate, Feb, 5, 1816. Deed Book 20, page 56. Clement Shackelford left no will.
From the Will of Vincent Shackelford, which we will publish at a later date, we find that he mentioned his sister-in-law Mary L. Shackelford. And Mary L. had to be the wife of Clement, as we know the names of his other sisters-in-law. So we shall discuss the family of Clement here. Vincent Shackelford also mentioned William, John and James, the three youngest children of Mary L. Shackelford.
Then again we find the following instrument:
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Moore F. Brockenbrough as administrator for the estate of Vincent Shackelford, Robert Taylor and his wife -- Peggy Taylor, formerly Peggy Saunders, filed a suit as the plaintiff, and wherein Richard C., Vincent R., William, John and James Shackelford, infant children of Clement Shackelford, were the defendants, December 1822. Order Book 26, page 15. So here we see that Clement Shackelford and his wife -- Mary L. Shackelford, had at least five children, ie: Richard C., Vincent R., William, John and James. All sons.
Now who was Mary L. Shackelford, wife of Clement Shackelford?
Mary L. Shackelford appears to have been a sister to Nancy M. Sandy. But we are not certain of that was her maiden name, for perhaps Nancy M. had married a man by the name of Sandy.
Mary L. Shackelford sold her interest in the estate of Nancy M. Sandy to Thomas S. Lyell, April, 13, 1832. Deed Book 23, page 513.
Then Mary L. Shackelford relinquished her right to a legacy left her by Nancy M. Sandy, deceased, May 1832. Order Book 28, page 27.
Nancy M. Sandy made a deed of gift of a negro boy named Henry, to her nephew -- James Shackelford, October, 28, 1830. Deed Book 23, page 226.
Since James Shackelford was a nephew of Nancy M. Sandy, and as Nancy M. Sandy left a legacy to Mary L. Shackelford, it seems apparent that they were sisters. But who was Nancy M. Sandy: Was that her maiden name, or was she a widow?
Mary L. Shackelford was deceased, left no will, and the sheriff, not named, was appointed administrator, May, 8, 1833. Order Book 28, page 133.
William Shackelford, son of Richard, Sr, was deceased and his estate administered by Richard L. Shackelford and Daniel Garland, February, 15, 1816. Deed Book 20, page 55.
This could not have been Richard, Jr, as Richard Jr, was deceased in 1818. Order Book 24, page 237: while Richard L. Shackelford was not deceased until 1825, when William R. Shackelford was the administrator. Order Book 26, page 306.
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There was some connections between the Shackelfords and the Garlands, according to the following item. Clement Shackelford, Vincent Shackelford, Vincent Garland and Thomas Dobyns, as heirs of Benjamin Garland, sell their interest in his estate, including lands in Richmond County, August, 18, 1815. Deed Book 20, page 50. Since their mother was a Landman we are at a loss to the connection unless it was through their respective wives.
Another item of interest and one that we do not understand is as follows: Thomas Jackson was of Frederick County, Va., and was guardian for Thomas, Vincent and John Jackson. Clement Shackelford was indebted to them and as a result was involved in a lawsuit August, 16, 1810. Deed Book 19, page 47.
One John Shackelford, evidently the son of Clement, had left the State of Virginia by August 1826. But this may have been Captain Jack, for although he was known as Jack, his name was John. Order Book 27, page 103.
Eliza M. Shackelford was an orphan over the age of fourteen years, and chose Moore F. Brockenbrough as her guardian, April 6, 1829. Order Book 27, page 272.
Elizabeth F., George W., Richard L., Virginia and Sarah Ann Shackelford, infant heirs of Fanny L. Shackelford, who was a sister to Josiah B. Davis, by their next friend -- William R. Shackelford, as plaintiffs, filed suit against Robert H. Davis, Juliet Plummer, and William S. Northem and wife -- Sarah Ann Northem, as defendants, for a division of the estate of Josiah B. Davis, March 1834. Order Book 28, page 208.
Lyne Shackelford was appointed Captain of Militia, April, 12, 1834. Order Book 28, page 224.
William R. Shackelford was deceased, and Albert G. Plummer was administrator of his estate, June, 1834. Order Book 28, page 230.
The May and June numbers of the Magazine, as you have noted, is a little late this time, for which we are sorry. And we hope to make it up to you by having the July and August numbers out earlier.
Until next month, Adios -- The Editor.
Transcribed by: Tee Forshaw June 12, 1998
UpdatedThursday, 01-May-2008 16:48:53 EDT