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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 1949 Vol. 5. 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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WILL OF JOHN DARNABY
In the name of God, Amen: I, John Darnaby, of the County of Fayette and State of Kentucky, being of sound mind and memory, do hereby make, ordain and declare this instrument of writing being drawn at my special direction, to be my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all others heretofore made by me.
First: I do hereby constitute and appoint my sons William Darnaby, James Darnaby, and George W. Darnaby, executors to my last Will and Testament, and that my wish is, that they act agreeably to the following instructions.
Second: I wish that my executors furnish my beloved wife - Elizabeth Darnaby, out of my estate, with a gentle riding horse, good saddle and bridle, a good bed and bedstead, and plenty of bed clothing, for and during her life; and at her death to be disposed of as she directs. Likewise it is my will that said executors pay to my said wife Elizabeth, out of my estate annually, the sum of one hundred dollars, during her life. This annuity is to be for a support for her and expended as she pleases. It is likewise my will that my executors lend to my said wife Elizabeth, during her life, my negro woman called Esther Emerson, whom I lately got from Sarah Rider's Estate, in Virginia; and at the death of my wife -- Elizabeth, it is my
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will that the said Esther be given immediately into the possession of my daughter Judith Coons, and that the said Judith Coons till the first day of January 1855, and that my executors proceed immediately therefore to set the said Esther, commonly called Esther Emerson, free and at her own liberty. But should the said Esther die or become unable to serve my said wife during her life, in that event, it is my will that my executors hire immediately a good faithful female servant to wait on my said wife, so that she may be well attended during her life. Further it is my will that my daughter -- Judith Coons, account to my estate the dollars per year as long as Esther serves her, this sum to be equally divided between all my children. But in the event that the said Esther has children, then my daughter -- Judith Coons is not to pay any hire atall for her, but the increase of the said Esther, (if any) 'till her emancipation, is to be disposed of as follows:
One third of the said increase to go to my daughter -- Judith Coons. The reason I give her one third is, that she will have to mother and must keep and raise the increase, (if any) 'till the emancipation of the said Esther; and the other two thirds of said increase, (if any) to be divided equally between all of my children, except Judith Coons.
Third: I give and bequeath to my son William Darnaby, all the tract or parcel of land, formerly belonging to the tract of land whereon I now live, lying on the east side of the Cleveland road and which he has sold to Martin Coons.
Fourth: It is my will that my executors reserve one quarter of an acre of land whereon I live, including my grave yard, with a good passway to the same, keep it well inclosed in, and to be free for a burying ground for all of my children.
Fifth: I give and bequeath to my son George W. Darnaby, one equal third of the balance of the tract of land whereon I now live, to be laid off in one lot together in the following manner -- Beginning at a place between the stone, a corner to my brother Edward Darnaby and myself; and a sycamore standing in the edge of the branch so
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as to run parallel with the lane that runs by the barn, so as to include the lane fence on the right hand side of the lane and with said lane fence to gate at the woods, thence a line drawn to the Cleveland road, (say diagonally) and around with the outward boundaries of my land to include the quanity, He, the said George W. Darnaby purchased the interest of my daughter -- Judith Coons, at $20.00 per acre; also that my said son George W. Darnaby is always to have free access to my spring and likewise to have all the buildings he possesses and occupies.
Sixth: The balance of the tract of land whereon I live, I wish divided equally between my sons -- John, James, and Edward; and daughter Betsy Clark.
Seventh: And last it is my will and desire that after my executors provide for my wife Elizabeth Darnaby, out of my estate according to my directions in the first part of this will, then that all the balance of my negroes, except Esther Emerson, and all the balance and residue of my estate of every kind whatsoever be divided equally, either by a sale or division as my executors think best, between all my children to-wit: William, John, Edward, George W., and my daughters Judith and Betsy.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 22nd day of September, 1827 (September 22, 1827). Signed -- John Darnaby. (Seal)
Beverly A. Hicks and A. Thompson, witnesses.
Item: It is my will that the court require no security of my executors, as I have full confidence in them.
Item: It is my will that should Esther Emerson become disabled after she falls into the hands of my daughter -- Judith Coons, so she cannot work, then Judith Coons is to support her either at her expense and pay no hire for her. As witness my hand and seal this 17th day of May 1828 (May 17, 1828).
Beverly A. Hicks and Mary C. Hicks, witnesses.
Recorded in Will Book L, page 202, Fayette Co., Ky.
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Probated October Court, 1833.
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In our November issue we gave you a copy of the will of William Darnaby, grandfather of the above mentioned John. This John Darnaby is said by some to have been a son of one Edward Darnaby, but records in our possession indicate that his father was William, Jr., not Edward. We find the following to support our claim.
"John Darnaby, son of William Darnaby, deceased, apprenticed himself to Ambrose Dudley, with the concent of his mother -- Judith Darnaby, alias Judith Smith, to learn to be a joiner and house carpenter --." Deed Book J, page 35, dated Sept. 4, 1774, in Spottsylvania County, Virginia.
As you see, this shows that John was a son of William, and since we know that he was a grandson of William and Diana, it indicates to us that his father was William Darnaby, Jr.
Confirmation of this one way or the other will be greatly appreciated.
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"No person can pour the perfume of happiness on others without spilling a few drops on themselves" -- Anon.
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John Darnaby was born June 27, 1760, in Spottsylvania Co., Va., and was, as we have it, a son of William Darnaby, Jr., and his wife Judith Gayle. He was a soldier of the Revolution, having enlisted before he was sixteen years of age. He died in Fayette County, Ky., in 1833.
In the year 1782 John Darnaby married Elizabeth Alsop. The date of her birth is not shown, but she died in 1832. They had the following children:
Judith----------------(married Joshua Coons)
William--------------(married Malinda Smith)
James----------------(married Ellen Sharp)
John, Jr.--------------(married Malinda Ellis)
Edward--------------(married Catherine Smith)
George W.-----------(married Elizabeth Ellis)
Betsy-----------------(married William Clark)
Malinda Smith and Catherine Smith were sisters.
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Thanks to our good friend -- Mr J. R. Johnson, of Lexington, Ky., we have almost a complete data of the descendants of John and Elizabeth Alsop-Darnaby; and we would be most happy to exchange what we have with any one for the additional data of the descendants of Edward Darnaby, or of his two sisters -- one of whom married a Duvall, and the other a Wood.
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"Fear less, hope more, eat less, chew more, talk less, say more, whine less, breathe more, hate less, love more, and all good things will be yours."
-- Swedish Proverb--
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Since this copy is being typed before the November issue comes off the press, we have no new subscribers to report this time; but we do wish to acknowledge one that we overlooked last month. And we do have a renewal from Mr Marshall T. Shackelford, of Cisne, Ill., which should have been reported last month. But we are equally as grateful any way. Thanks Mr Shackelford.
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We have so many to report that have favored us with additional data, that we will not have the space to report both name and address, so we are just going to report the names this time. They are as follows: Mrs Vernon E. McArthur; Mrs J. W. Shackelford; Mr Robert B. Nance; Mrs George Fisher; and from a lady who requested that her name not be mentioned; Mrs C. W. Purcell; Mrs M. H. Netherton; Mr W. A. Hagey; Mrs Cecil (initial not legible - note from transcriber) Taylor; Mrs Ira J. Seitz; Mr J. R. Johnson; Julia S. Dillard; Mrs W. M. Sweeney; Mrs R. S. Watkins; Mrs B. W. Gandrud; Mrs J. M. Davis; Mr Harry W. Mills; Mrs Willie Mae King; Mrs Anna B. Record; Rev A. Brooks Withers; Mrs D. L. Stoddard; Mr M. T. Shackleford; Miss Catherine Powell; Mrs Margaret Gray-Blanton; Mr Ben Hill Shackelford; Mrs B. L. Kirk; Mrs J. Frank Thompson; Mr B. L. Shackelford; and Mrs Mary Harris-Armor.
And several of the above contributed more than
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once. During the past three months we have received more data from our correspondents than at any other like period since we have been doing this work. And words cannot express our gratitude and appreciation for such kindness and consideration.
One of the most unusual things that has happened to us, happened last month. We had asked Mrs R. S. Watkins, of Marks, Miss., to do some work for us over there. She did, but to our surprise the report she sent us was delivered in person by her very lovely and charming daughter. Having reports delivered in person is something new to us, but something that we shall always cherish in our memory. Thanks again Mrs and Miss Watkins.
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ODDITIES FOUND IN GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH
One finds many strange records while searching for information of ancestors, and last year we found two or three items that we feel like will be of interest to many, if not all of you. Following is one of them.
"Agreement made between William Collins and Thomas Schooler, wherein the said William Collins sold his wife to the said Thomas Schooler for value received, May 2, 1781. The said William Collins says that he never will disturb the said Thomas Schooler or his property, that the said Schooler has purchased of the said Collins" And the said agreement is as follows: "I do hereby acknowledge to have received from Thomas Schooler, the sum of two dollars and a half dozen bowls or grogg, for the sale of my wife and property to him, and to have my said wife forever and a day, with her bed, clothing, etc." --
Signed -- William X (his mark) Collins.
Sworn to and signed before me, this third day of May, 1781. John Troup -- J. P., Charleston, S. C.
Recorded in Miscellaneous Records, Book SS, page 420, Charleston, S. C. (Now in Archives at Columbia)
Evidently Mr Collins had a burning desire to rid himself of this particular wife.
Next month another one just as unusual.
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Births that we did not have space to report last month, as follows:
Little Miss Helen Diann, a lovely little cherub arrived on this orb Sept. 13, 1949, to bless the home of Mr and Mrs Kintos and Helen Madeline Kirk-Replogle, of Medina, Tenn. The little lady is a great grand daughter of Bivie L. and Mary Elnora Shackelford-Kirk, Mary Elnora Shackelford is a name sake of the mother of this writer, so has always been one of our favorite cousins.
Five days later another little bundle of the sugar and spice and everything nice variety, arrived to bless the home of Mr and Mrs Bernard Leslie and Mary Virginia Swartz-Shackelford, of Waynesboro, Va. This little lady arrived Sept. 18, 1949; and a lusty little cherub she was too, tipping the scales at 8 lbs and 2 oz.
Congratulations to the happy parents, and best wishes for both babies.
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Weddings that we did not have the space to report last month, as follows:
Miss Betty June Hayhurst, lovely daughter of Mrs Delphia Hayhurst, of New Martinsville, W. Va., became the charming bride of Mr Robert Hale Shackelford, son of Mr and Mrs Hayes Shackelford, of Joetown, (presumably W. Va.) August 7, 1949. No other details were given.
Our correspondent stated that Mr Shackelford was a minister of the Evangelical United Brethren. But he never stated if it was the groom or his father that was the minister.
Miss Wyna Fay Hullett, charming daughter of Mr and Mrs George T. Hullett, of Bessemer, Alabama, became the blushing bride of Mr James Melvin, son of Mr and Mrs Masterson Clay and Claude Atchison-Shackelford, September 23, 1949. Residence of the groom not shown. Nor were any other of the details of the happy event, given.
So on behalf of the entire Clan we extend our warmest congratulations and best wishes to all. May you always be as happy as you are right now.
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Now we regret that it is our sad duty to report a very tragic death that has happened among our number. The news has just reached us.
James Dillard (Jim) White, son of Mr and Mrs William Rush White, of Spartanburg, S. C., was born Sept. 19, 1925. He died recently (exact date not shown) as a result of an accident, when from 6900 to 7000 volts of electricity ripped through his body while he was working on a power line near Landrum, S. C. He died the next day.
He is survived by his parents, one brother and one sister, and his maternal grand parents -- Mr and Mrs J. M. Jackson, of Reidville, S. C. And he was a paternal grandson of the late Mr and Mrs Joseph King and Donnie May Shackelford-White, also of Spartanburg.
On behalf of the entire Clan we extend profound sympathy and consolation of hope. May the Lord bless and comfort you in your hour of sorrow.
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On our return from our recent little tour we had a little set-to with a gang of would-be high jackers, near Wichita Falls, Texas. They chased us for a distance of 45 miles, trying everything they knew how to force us from the highway and to a stop, but without success. We eluded them and arrived home safely. We did not feel it of necessary importance to mention it last month. But we acknowledge with thanks, the very graphic and dramatic account of it that Mrs Margaret S. McGuinn, of Spartanburg, S. C. gave us in her September "Chadwick Chat." Mrs McGuinn, the former Miss Margaret Cadelia Shackelford, a maternal cousin, is doing for her Chatwick Family what we are trying to do for our Shackelford Clan. So if any of you have any Chadwick data or know where it can be found, please give her a lift, wont you?
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"Play is a sacred thing, a divine ordinance, for developing in the child a harmonious and healthy organism, and preparing that organism for the commencement of the work of life." -- J. G. Holland.
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Until next month, Adios -- The Editor.
Transcribed by Stephen William Shackelford, June 22, 1998 - Austin, Texas.
UpdatedThursday, 01-May-2008 16:49:54 EDT