George W Shelton

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: James Shelton
• Residence: 1782, , Amelia, Virginia, USA
• Residence: 1810, , Grainger, Tennessee, USA

Notes:

Eliphaz donates land for courthouse
After the Revolution and the Independence won, Captain Eliphaz Shelton on February 28, 1784 received from Benjamin Harrison, then Governor of Virginia, a grant of 590 acres on both sides of Mayo River in Henry County. He applied for a grant selecting two adjoin­ing tracts of 400 acres and 190 acres bordering his father's land astride the South Fork of Mayo River. The official survey of this grant of land was made by John Dickerson, Henry County Surveyor, as of November 25, 1782, duly recorded in Henry County Survey Book No. 1, page 197, on file in clerk's office in Henry County Court House, Martinsville, Virginia. His land was bounded on the south by the 400-acre tract owned by his brother, Captain James Shelton, At a point close by Captain Eliphaz Shelton's western boundary the waters from Bull Mountain Fork joined the South Mayo River as it flowed out of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With the formation of Patrick County in 1791, a site was needed for the county seat. The first court was held in a tobacco warehouse near Mayo Forge in the eastern part of the county. Later the place for holding court was moved to the home of Edward Tatum on Peters Creek. But the permanent site of the county seat was chosen by the 255 Justices to be the heart of the 590-acre tract of Eliphaz Shelton near the south Fork of Mayo River. Records in the office of Circuit Court Clerk of Patrick County show that Eliphaz Shelton donated 18 acres for the site of the county seat. This was by deed dated Octob­er 10, 1791 recorded in Deed Book 1, page 17. Four men — William Banks, Samuel Clark, Charles Poster and William Carter — or any 3 of them, were appointed to lay off the land. A courthouse was built and the land was laid out and named Taylorsville, this for one George Taylor. The town was later called Stuart for J. E. B. Stuart, Confederate General, and was incorporated as such in 1884. That year the Danville and New River Railroad ran its line into the town. Eliphaz Shelton owned and operated a gristmill on Campbell Branch, which flows through the town, one Samuel Staples as early as 1791 operated a blacksmith shop on land in the county seat donated by Eliphaz Shelton. A meetinghouse in the vicinity is mentioned in a deed from one James Beuford to Eliphaz made in 1793. So the Sheltons particularly Ralph sr., Eliphaz and James, were very instrumental in forming Patrick County. Their adjoining tracks of land in the Taylorsville area were so situated with relation to each other that if a line was drawn from a point on the western boundary of Eliphaz‘s land eastward through the town of Taylorsville, crossing the adjoining tracts of Ralph Shelton, Sr. and James Shelton to the latter’s eastern edge, such a line would be two and one-fourth miles long. A 1794 record shows that Eliphaz witnessed in Patrick County the wedding of John Chandler and Elizabeth Bennett on December 10, 1794. Another witness was Thomas Boiling, Sr. Eliphaz Shelton died in August 1826 at his residence near the Patrick County courthouse, is buried on land formerly owned by Ralph Shelton (5), which is in the present town of Stuart, as is Ralph, the old cemetery being on land now owned by the Carter family.

James married Susanna Vardaman in 1750 in , Lincoln, Tennessee, USA. Susanna (daughter of William Vardeman and Magdelena Peterson) was born in 1737 in , Amelia, Virginia, USA; died in 1816 in , Lincoln, Tennessee, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 23 Oct 1709, Christ Church, Middlesex, Virginia, USA

Notes:

Ralph Shelton Jr was born in 1709 in Middlesex Co Virginia. He died on 30 Mar 1789 in Henry County Virginia. Ralph Shelton Jr, the second son of Ralph and Mary Shelton, was baptised in Christ Church of Middlesex County Virginia on 23 October 1709. He was married twice. First to Mary Daniel on 10 June 1731 in Middlesex County. Mary was the daughter of William Daniel and Mary Moseley. Ralph Shelton secondly married Susannah_____ with whom he had four children: Aesop (c1780); Abigail; Liberty; and Mary.

Ralph's will, recorded in Will Book 1 page 170-171, Martinsville, Henry County Virginia, was dated 23 April 1787, and was presented in court of Henry County on 30 march 1789, and reads as follows:

To my son John Shelton five pounds sterling to cut him off from his heirship. My four last children namely Easop Shelton, Abbegal Shelton, Mary Shelton, Liberty Shelton, shall by resid (sic) of my estate. The remainder part of my estate, lands and moveables to be equally divided between Ralph Shelton, Palitiah Shelton, Eliphaz Shelton, James Shelton, Ezekiah Shelton, Jerimiah Shelton, Azariah Shelton, Roger Shelton, Easop Shelton, Abbegal Shelton, Mary Shelton, Liberty Shelton, Katherine Rutherford, Sarah Robertson, Elizabeth Arnold, Rina (Dorina) McGehe, Luranah Jones. My son, Ralph Shelton and Eliphaz Shelton, Executors.
signed: Ralph Shelton
Wit: John Fletcher, Henry Holt, John Branham
30 march 1789. Proved by witnesses. Exhibited in court by Eliphaz Shelton who gave bond with Steven Lyon and John Parr,Jr., securities.

Ralph married Mary Daniel on 10 Jun 1731 in Middlesex Co., Virginia.
They had the following children:
John Shelton was born in 1732.






From Surry County, North Carolina Abstracts Deed Books A, B, and C1770-1788 - Book C page 448 27 Apr 1786 Jesse MAUPIN, Henry County VA toJohn SHELTON 10 pds 100 ac SNOW CREEK adj Henry BAKER. Samuel SHELTON,David SHELTON, Charles HIBBERT. S/Jesse MAUPIN, Lucy MAUPIN (do thesedeeds apply to this John Shelton? - it's certainly possible since othersin this family also owned land in Surry & Stokes Counites., NC duringthis time period). From Book D page 171,172 28 Feb 1788 George WATKINS toJohn SHELTON 25 pds 100 ac waters DAN RIVER place called DUNCANS or THREESPGS head water LITTLE SNOW CREEK. Jesse BUMP, Daniel CHANDLER. S/GeorgeX WATK


From Stokes Co, NC Land Entries 1790 - 1798, abstract on page 361 02 Sep1794 Matthew Deatherage enters 100 ac on Mackey Cr water of Dan R;includes improv John Holt sold to Ezekiah Shelton.


In some deed records it appears Ralph Shelton (III) was married to a ladynamed Elizabeth. We do not have her surname, nor proof of the marriage toAnn TAYLOR. It has not yet been determined which Ralph Shelton this NCdeed abstract pertains to, but it could be this Ralph, for several of hissiblings also owned land in Surry/Stokes Counties., NC: Surry County,North Carolina Abstracts Deed Books A, B, and C 1770-1788
Book C page 117 03 Nov 1784 NC Grant Ralph SHELTON 500 ac HIXES FORK (ofPeters Creek) adj LANSFORD FIELD.


Ralph married Ann Taylor. Ann was born in 1755. Palatiah Shelton was born in 1736.

His name was found on the 1767 Tithables for Pittsylvania Co., VA.Palatiah Shelton owned 72 acres on the Blue Ridge, including some of thebranches of Johnson's and Loving Creek 28 Feb 1784, and 90 acres on thesouth side of the Rockey Mountain, including some of the branches ofSouth Mayo Creek 28 Feb 1784, also 309 acres purchased 31 Mar 1786 on thehead branches of the Middle Fork of Little Dan River (source: "History ofPatrick & Henry Co., VA" by Virginia G. & Lewis G. Pedigo, copyright1933-LDS Family History Center, Salt Lake City, UT). Although his namewas not spelled correctly, he apparently owned land in Surry Co., NC (asdid his father & several siblings) according to deed abstracts from SurryCo, NC Deed Abstracts, Book D, E and F 1779-1790: page 1063, JonathanMUSICK enters 300 acres of land in Surry Co on both sides of the MOUNTAIN BRANCH the waters of SNOW CREEK beginning at Jesse MAPPINES upper cornerthen running to include the imporvement whereon PATTETYER (should bePalatiah) SHELTON now lives for quantity. Dec 15, 1778. Warrant granted.Also page 58. Charles WHITLOCK enters 640 acres of land in Surry Co lyingat the FLAG POND on SNOW CREEK including the improvement that wasSalathiel SHELTON'S (again should be Palatiah) For complement. April 17,1778. Warrant granted. Another source for this line was found in GenServ,data entered by Buddy Holmes, E-mail holmes@gulfaero.com. He was thesource for the spouse data.

Palatiah married Mary Harbour. Katherine Shelton was born in 1737.

The given name Dudley comes from a descendant, Barbee Hodgkins, E-mail -bhodgkin@OregonVOS.net. She spells the 7th child's name as CatherineSHELTON. Another researcher has added a little to this line atWorldConnect: The Jerry H Collins Tree and he lists one child calledLydia. He wrote that she married c1806 to James Shelton, and lists thisJames as a son to James & Philipina Shelton.

Katherine married Dudley Rutherford. 8FviiDelrina Shelton was born in 1739. She died after 1842 in Jackson County, Alabama.

She died in Jackson Co., AL Aft. 1842, according to LPelt@aol.com.Another researcher for this line submitted data to GenServ. She is AnitaMcGehee, E-mail munchkins@sprintmail.com. Anita wrote that WilliamMcGehee was born 31 Mar 1756, died May 1836 in Jackson Co., AL. He wasthe son of James McGEHEE Jr. and Ann CHILES. Please write to Anita if youcan share information on the SHELTON/McGEHEE connection. Derina SHELTON'sbirth of c1739 is only an estimate, and may not be correct.

Delrina married William McGehee. Susannah Shelton was born in 1740. Susannah married Unknown Jones. Jeremiah Shelton , Sr. Eliphaz Shelton, Azariah Shelton, Sarah Shelton , Roger Shelton was born about 1756. Elizabeth Shelton was born about 1760 in Amelia County, Virginia.
Elizabeth married William Arnold.
Ralph married (2) Susannah Unknown about 1769.

They had the following children:
Abigail Shelton was born in 1772.
Mary Shelton was born in 1775.
Liberty Shelton was born in 1780.

He was named in his father's will, and found on the 1807-1808 Casey Co.,KY Tax Lists. He remained on these list until 1828. Ken Shelton sent thisinfomration: deed, dated 14 Apr 1823, Manson Ragan to Liberty Shelton,both of Casey County, and 2nd deed, dated 11 Nov 1824, George Vandeventto Liberty Shelton, both of Casey County. From The Kentucky Land Grants,p.718 Libery SHELTON was a Grantee of 50 acres from a survey 01 Jan 1828in Casey Co., KY on the South Fork of the Green River.

Ralph Shelton(5) was born in Middlesex County, Virginia in 1709 and was baptized there on October 23, that year.

Early in his life his father purchased land along the line between Middlesex and Essex Counties and remained on the land until his death in 1789.

Ralph(5) married Mary Daniel in Middlesex County on June 10, 1731. In 1740, he is on record in Essex County, having in May that year presented a certificate for payment to the Essex Court for tak­ing up a runaway slave, Cheshire, belonging to Mrs. Winifred Webb of Richmond. Shortly thereafter, after starting his family, Ralph Shelton(5), and his brother Crispin, turned toward Amelia County, nearly a hundred miles to the southwest, the county having been created in 1734 from Brunswick and Prince George Counties. Amelia at first also included the areas now in Prince Edward and Nottaway Counties.

On September 20, 1745 Ralph Shelton(5) received a royal grant of 4OO acres in Amelia County on the lower side of Snails Creek and North of Great Nottaway River. It appears likely that his mother, Mary Clark, his brother Crispin, and his four youngest brothers, John, Benjamin, James and Daniel went with Ralph(5) to Amelia County.

That year John was 23, Benjamin was 21, James was 19 and Daniel was l6.In 1746 Ralph Shelton(5) and his brother Benjamin signed deeds as witnesses when their brother Crispin sold off part of his 620 acres holdings in Amelia County -- a parcel of 155 acres to Henry Beuford of Amelia County and one of 203 acres to James Beuford of Orange County, Virginia. The Beufords were likely Shelton kin, since it is noted that both Henry and James were witnesses to the will of Ralph's father, Ralph Shelton(4) possibly brothers-in-law of Cris­pin Shelton who was brother of Ralph(5).

On June 10, 1749 Ralph Shelton(5) had a second land grant — 400 acres in Lunenburg County on the lower side of Ledbetter’s Creek, on October 23, 1751 Ralph Shelton of the Parrish of Nottaway, Amelia County, bought 286 acres more on the lower side of Snales Creek from Samuel Jordon, Snales Creek being a small stream scarcely five miles long in the southeast corner of Prince Edward County, empty­ing into the Great Nottaway where Prince Edward, Nottaway and Lun­enburg Counties meet. This places the 686-acre homestead of Ralph Shelton(5) in the extreme southwest corner of present Nottaway County and his land on Ledbetter Creek about 10 miles distant to the south and west.On May 10, 1750 the mother of Ralph Shelton{5), Mary Clark, identi­fying herself as of the "Parish of Nottaway in the County of Amelia" wrote her will. She named, besides her son Ralph Shelton: Grandson Reuben Shelton, sons Crispin, John, Benjamin and James; her daugh­ter, Elizabeth Davis; all with token remembrances. But to her son, Daniel, she gave all the rest of her estate, naming her youngest, now approaching 21, the Executor of the Estate. Included among the behests to Daniel was a Negro wench named Janey.

The Sheltons continued to live on in Amelia County for another 13 years. When some of the Lunenburg lands were processioned in 1760 for sale for taxes Ralph's land was listed, but it was not sold "want of attendance". His residence was still the Amelia land not far away, but even then he may have been venturing farther west.

On February 22, 1763 he sold his Amelia land — 686 acres on the lower aide of Snales Creek — to Richard Burks. John Shelton, like­ly Ralph's brother, witnessed the deed. Shortly thereafter, Ralph 5) was sued and then he and Richard Burks for debt by Lidell Bacon and Richard Clough, executors of Samuel Jordon. Evidently Ralph's mortgage had not been paid off. Judgment was awarded by the Amelia Court for 52 pounds 7 shillings with interest at five per cent from November 1, 1756.

On July 1, 1763 Ralph Shelton(5) purchased a tract of 400 acres both sides south Fork of Mayo River in Halifax County, Virginia. This land was purchased from one Darby Callahan who lived in Or­ange County, North Carolina. The property was in the part of Halifax County that in 1791 became Patrick County near the present site of the county seat — Stuart, Virginia. This was 125 miles west of his holdings in Amelia County. Ralph Shelton(5) and at least part of his large family moved to this property in 1763. Before this be­came Patrick County it was progressively Halifax, Pittsylvania and Henry Counties (see page 8).

Pittsylvania County was formed in June 1767. The first tax lists of the new county included the fol­lowing Sheltons:
Ralph Shelton Sr, Eliphaz Shelton, James Shelton, Crispin Shelton, Shenor Shelton (likely Spencer): Negroes Tom, Lucy and Primus, Gabriel Shelton, Abraham Payne, Negroes Zachary and Violet, Lewis Shelton, Negro Pat Abraham Shelton, Edgecomb J. Williams, William Shelton

The first four named are Ralph(5) and three of his 10 sons. The next five are Ralph's brother Crispin and four of Crispin's eight sons. Although William is not certainly identifiable, he is pos­sibly the son of the James Shelton who in turn was son of one Ralph and Mary pollard Shelton who were said to have resided "on the far side of the Dismal Swamp".

By 1776 the western part of Pittsylvania County had become so well settled that its citizens felt the need of a new county. That year they petitioned for same, the petition reading: "It is extremely inconvenient for us to attend upon any business, civil or military, it being a fact that in Pittsylvania County some 75 and 80 miles from the upper end of the county to the court house and others 45 or 50 miles from the lower end, and many large water courses in the way, and we are frequently called together to the courthouse on account of the unhappy dispute between Great Britain and the colon­ies (being ready and willing to do all in our power in defense of our just rights and liberties with many grievous burthens too ted­ious to mention)."

So the petitioners numbering several hundred asked for a division on a line due south from Black Water on Staunton River. The result was the creation of Henry County, named for the already famous war Governor, Patrick Henry.

Among those who petitioned to bring about the division of the county were these Sheltons:
Ralph Shelton James Shelton Gabriel Shelton Eliphaz Shelton William Shelton John Shelton James Shelton Gregory Durham Beverly Shelton Roger Shelton Daniel Shelton son-in-law of James

James and William Shelton above were sons of one Ralph and Mary Pollard Shelton, and Gregory Durham was a son-in-law.

The tax lists of the year 1779 for Henry County showed Ralph and James Shelton and their sons living on South and North Forks of Mayo River respectively. They were assessed as follows:

Ralph Shelton (5) 23 pounds 1 shil 7 pence
Palatiah Shelton 21 " 10 " 5"
Eliphaz Shelton 53 " 15 " 11"
John Shelton 6 " 5
James Shelton 3 " 13 " 8 "
Ezekiah Shelton 9 " 14 " 6
Jeremiah Shelton 12 " 12 "
Azariah Shelton 12 " 6 " 8 "
James Shelton 118 " 13 " (Son of Ralph and Mary Pollard)
William Shelton 6 " 15 " ( " " " " "
Gregory Durham " 15 " (Son-in-law of James and __Shelton)

In the early days of Virginia every settler was perforce a soldier, The Indians watched the ever-advancing tide of White settlers and resisted sporadically. The citizenry of each county was organized into militia. Ralph Shelton (5) was in the active military service in Amelia County in 1758. During the Revolution most of the Pittsylvania Shelton’s (Henry Countians) were in active official or military service. James Shelton and his brother Eliphaz were militia Captains in Henry County. John's son Roderick and James' sons James and George were in the Continental Army, Roderick reportedly having served di­rectly under George Washington, James and George having been cavalry­men.

The will of Ralph Shelton (5) was written April 3, 1787. It was ­recorded in Will Book 1, page 171, March 3, 1789. He signed himself as Ralph Shelton (Sr.), recorded in Henry County, Virginia: in the name of God Amen the twenty-third day of April one Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty-Seven I Ralph Shelton, Sr. of Henry County, Virginia, being of perfect mind and memory and recalling that all men are ap­pointed once to die do make and constitute and ordain that this my last will and testament in manner and form following. (Viz) First and principally I recommend my soul Into the hands of Almighty God who gave it to me, and as touching that worldly estate it has pleas­ed him to bestow on me I 'dispose of them as follows: I give and de­vise to my son John Shelton five pounds sterling current money of Virginia. The intent of ray willing my son John Shelton five pounds sterling is to cut him off from his kinship. And also my will and desire is that my last four children, namely Aesop Shelton, Abigail Shelton, Mary Shelton and Liberty Shelton shall be raised off my estate and the remainder part of my estate, land and movables, to be equally divided between Ralph Shelton, Palatiah Shelton, Eliphaz Shelton, James Shelton, Ezekiah Shelton, Jeremiah Shelton, Azariah Shelton, Roger Shelton, Aesop Shelton, Abigail Shelton, Mary Shel­ton, Liberty Shelton, Kathern Shelton, Sarah Robertson, Elizabeth Arnold, Rina McGehe, Susannah Jones, they are their heirs. I also appoint my sons Ralph Shelton and Eliphaz Shelton Executors of this, my last will and testament set by hand and affixed my seal the day and year above written. Signed, sealed, published, pronounc­ed and declared to be my last will and testament.Ralph Shelton, Sr.John Fletcher, Henry Holt, John Branham The will was proved on March 30, 1789 at the same place, and the following was written: At a court held in Henry County on the 30th Day of March, 1789 the within last will and testament of Ralph Shelton, deceased was exhibited in court by Eliphaz Shelton, one of the Executors therein named who took oath as Executor. The same was proved by the oaths of the witnesses thereto to be the last will and testament of the said Ralph Shelton deceased and the said Eliphaz Shelton with Stephen Lyon and John Parr, Jr., his sureties, entered into bond and acknowledged the same and was ordered to be recorded by the court, the said Eliphaz Shelton having obtained a probate thereof in due form and agreeable to law. Teste John Cox CHC

It is noted that Ralph Shelton, Sr. had previously deeded to his son James 400 acres of land both sides South Fork Mayo River on March 13, 1784.

Then on April 25, 1791 James sold land both sides Mayo River.The following Shelton’s paid taxes in Henry County, Virginia but were not listed in the census of 1790.

They were listed by Fother-gill and Naugee in 1782 and 1787:

Eliphaz Shelton Ralph Shelton, Sr. Roger Shelton James Shelton Roger Shelton Samuel Shelton Palatiah Shelton Ralph Shelton, Jr. William Shelton

Ralph and Mary Pollard Shelton, who lived "other side of Dismal Swamp", gave each of their sons Samuel and William above, and also their son-in-law, Gregory Durham, a farm. They lived on Horsepasture and Ironmonger Creeks.

It will be noted that the above list, except for the last two, Sam­uel and William, are included in the will of Ralph Shelton above.

Records of Henry County show that Eliphaz took the oath of alleg­iance to the colonies and that Jeremiah furnished supplies to the county militia during the war in 1777 James was appointed Captain, serving until 1780, and in March, 1779 Eliphaz was also appointed Captain in the Henry County militia. The history of Patrick County is tied in with that of the Shelton family, that of Eliphaz Shel­ton particularly.

Ralph Shelton (5) was married twice, possibly three times. By first wife, Mary Daniel, whom he wed on June 10, 1731, he is thought to have had the following 14 children: John Shelton Ezekiah Shelton Sarah Shelton Robertson Ralph Shelton Jeremiah Shelton Elizabeth Shelton Arnold Palatiah Shelton Azariah Shelton Rina Shelton McGehee, (Rosa?) Eliphaz Shelton Roger Shelton Susannah Shelton Jones James Shelton Kathern Shelton Rutherford

Ralph Shelton, son of Ralph(5) and Mary Daniel Shelton, was born in Essex County, Virginia in about 1739. Mormon church records show Ralph Shelton, son of Ralph and Mary Shelton, christened on October 17, 1739 at Christ Church, Middlesex County, Virginia. He owned land in Henry County, which he sold in 1788. He bought land in Grainger County, Tennessee in 1796. Reportedly he moved to Knox County,Palatiah Shelton, son of Ralph (5) and Mary Daniel Shelton, was born in Essex County, Virginia about 1733. He deeded land to Sam­uel Crawley and Richard White in Pittsylvania County on November 29, 1770, and he is shown later in Jefferson County, Tennessee. On January 24,1795 he deeded 245 acres of land there to one John Lee. Other Shelton’s in Jefferson County are shown pages 325 & 380 of this book, Palatiah is said to have been on record in Hawkins County, Tennessee in 1795, Grainger County in 1796 and Knox County in 1823. He reportedly married twice, first, Mary; second, Ann. There is no record at hand of descendants or Palatiah. He is listed in early tax records of Henry County, Virginia.
Eliphaz Shelton, son of Ralph (5) and Mary Daniel Shelton, was born in Essex County, Virginia about 1734. His record and history coin­cide with the early days of Patrick County. His life in the mili­tary and as a private citizen is covered earlier in this chapter, pages 250 to 256. Evidently he was a favored son of Ralph (5), hav­ing been named an Executor of his will. He is listed as taxpayer in early records of Henry County. There is no record at hand of a marriage or descendants except for one notation, in a record in Patrick County on January l9, 1809 of the marriage of Olive Shelton to Samuel Nolen, Eliphaz was listed as father and Frederick was shown as a witness. Eliphaz is on record also as witnessing the marriage of John Chandler to Elizabeth Bennett on December 10, 1794, another witness being Thomas Boiling, Sr.; and on April 12, 1796 Eliphaz Shelton witnessed the marriage of Isaac Going to Nan­cy Lizby, with her mother, Mary Lizby, and one Henry Lizby and a William Moore also as witnesses.

In March, 1781 Eliphaz marched with his men under Colonel Abraham Penn to the assistance of General Nathaniel Green who was defending Guilford Courthouse down in North Carolina, in the listing on the following pages of those with Colonel Penn and his Adjutant, Major George Waller, many prominent names do not appear, the reason being that they had served their terms of enlistment and had been honor­ably discharged or were in the Northern Army or in the Artillery as were Roderick's cousins, James and George Shelton.In August 1780 there was a drive to enlist young men to oppose them at Kings Mountain on the North Carolina-South Carolina border. Rod­erick Shelton (7) went to a place in nearby East Tennessee near Elizabethton known as Valley Forge and re-enlisted for the campaign and joined up with General Green at King’s Mountain. Roderick was also likely among those who successfully defended against the British at Guilford Court House.The Independence won, Captain Eliphaz Shelton on February 28, 1784 received from Benjamin Harrison, then Governor of Virginia, a grant of 590 acres on both sides of Mayo River in Henry County. He applied for a grant selecting two adjoin­ing tracts of 400 acres and 190 acres bordering his father's land astride the South Fork of Mayo River. The official survey of this grant of land was made by John Dicker son, Henry County Surveyor, as of November 25, 1782, duly recorded in Henry County Survey Book No. 1, page 197, on file in clerk's office in Henry County Court House, Martinsville, Virginia. His land was bounded on the south by the 400-acre tract owned by his brother, Captain James Shelton, At a point close by Captain Eliphaz Shelton's western boundary the waters from Bull Mountain Fork joined the South Mayo River as it flowed out of the Blue Ridge Mountains.With the formation of Patrick County in 1791, a site was needed for the county seat. The first court was held in a tobacco warehouse near Mayo Forge in the eastern part of the county. Later the place for holding court was moved to the home of Edward Tatum on Peters Creek. But the permanent site of the county seat was chosen by the Justices to be the heart of the 590-acre tract of Eliphaz Shelton near the south Fork of Mayo River. Records in the office of Circuit Court Clerk of Patrick County show that Eliphaz Shelton donated 18 acres for the site of the county seat. This was by deed dated Octob­er 10, 1791 recorded in Deed Book 1, page 17. Four men — William Banks, Samuel Clark, Charles Poster and William Carter — or any 3 of them, were appointed to lay off the land. A courthouse was built and the land was laid out and named Taylorsville, this for one George Taylor. The town was later called Stuart for J. E. B. Stuart, Confederate General, and was incorporated as such in 1884. That year the Danville and New River Railroad ran its line into the town.Eliphaz Shelton owned and operated a gristmill on Campbell Branch, which flows through the town, one Samuel Staples as early as 1791 operated a blacksmith shop on land in the county seat donated by Eliphaz Shelton. A meetinghouse in the vicinity is mentioned in a deed from one James Beuford to Eliphaz made in 1793. So the Sheltons particularly Ralph sr., Eliphaz and James, were very instrumental in forming Patrick County. Their adjoining tracks of land in the Taylorsville area were so situated with relation to each other that if a line was drawn from a point on the western boundary of Eliphaz‘s land eastward through the town of Taylorsville, crossing the adjoining tracts of Ralph Shelton, Sr. and James Shelton to the latter’s eastern edge, such a line would be two and one-fourth miles long.A 1794 record shows that Eliphaz witnessed in Patrick County the wedding of John Chandler and Elizabeth Bennett on December 10, 1794. Another witness was Thomas Boiling, Sr. Eliphaz Shelton died in August 1826 at his residence near the Patrick County courthouse, is buried on land formerly owned by Ralph Shelton (5), which is in the present town of Stuart, as is Ralph, the old cemetery being on land now owned by the Carter family.

James Shelton, son of Ralph (5) and Mary Daniel Shelton, was born in Essex County, Virginia in 1734. He and his family moved with his father's family to Halifax County in southwest Virginia in 1763, the area that in 1767 became Pittsylvania County, in 1777 became Henry County and in 1791 became Patrick County, 1777, the year the county was formed, James Shelton was appointed Captain in the Henry County Militia. He served until 1780, at which time he resigned his commission. His son George and nephew James served in the Revolution, both of whom were cavalrymen. James (1734) owned 400 acres of land, which laid both sides South Fork, Mayo River, this land having been deeded to him by his father, Ralph Shelton (5), on March 13, 1784. The record shows that James sold this land on April 25, 1791. Traditionally, the head of the James Shelton family of Buncombe County, North Carolina had 13 sons. Mrs. Catherine Shelton Moser, born 1854, stated in 1940: “James Shelton, brother of Ralph who married Mary Crispin was married to Jincie (last name unknown), may have been my ancestor. He was born Middlesex County, Virginia in 1726. (Note: The Ralph Shelton who married Mary Crispin was Ralph (4), born 1685, father of this James and Ralph(5), the latter who married Mary Daniel), James and Jincie had sons; Thomas, James, Joseph, Mark, Anderson, Frederick, Jarrett or Garrett, Porter, George, William and David, the 13th not remembered, something like Rawleigh. David was founder of the 'Shelton Laurel Branch' of the family in the North Carolina Mountains...."This writer believes that Mrs. Moser has her data confused. My re­search shows that the James Shelton she names as being born in 1726 was a son of Ralph (4) born l685, and Mary Crispin Shelton, an uncle of the James born 1734. The James Shelton born 1726, in his will dated May 14, 1784, named wife Philiaplnea and 5 children — Nathan, James, Molly, Nancy and Sally. Mormon church records show this Nancy and Sally as being in the will of James Shelton 14, 1784, likely two of the daughters above. There is evidence that this James had wed previously, that wife supposedly named Jane (or Jincie). I have no certain record of children by her, it appears to me that the 13 sons of James Shelton listed by Mrs. Moser above included sons of the James born 1734, some of his brother John (6) born about 1732 and other cousins somewhat removed, of those named by Mrs. Moser, two were unquestionably sons of the James born 1734. He had married Susannah Shelton in about 1751.

David Shelton, son of James and Susannah Shelton, was born in Virginia about 1752. This is likely the David Shelton who came to Laurel Valley in Buncombe County, North Carolina with Roder­ick (7), the one who on December 10, 1801 granted to Roderick 100 acres on the left hand fork of Bald Mountain Creek, the deed being the so called "Cain River Deed".

George Shelton, son of James and Susannah Shelton, was born in Virginia in about 1756. He was a cavalryman in the Revolution.Other likely sons of the James born 1734 and Susannah Shelton were Joseph, Mark and Anderson Shelton, Records in Patrick County, Virginia show James, born 1734, son of Ralph (5) and Mary Daniel Shelton, and wife Susannah residing there in 1794. An earlier record shows that James sold land April 25,1791 both sides Mayo River in Patrick County, this land of 400 acres had been deeded to James by his father, Ralph (5) on March 13,1784. It might be well to note again that Patrick Coun­ty was formed from Henry County in 1791. Records show that there was a third James Shelton in the area of Henry-Patrick County besides the James born l734 and the one born 1726.

Ezekiah Shelton (Grover and Z. F. Shelton both show him as Hezekiah), son of Ralph (5) and Mary Daniel Shelton, was born in Essex County, Virginia about 1736. He is shown in deed record of Henry County, Virginia in 1791 and in Hawkins County, Tennessee in 1814. There is no certain record at hand of descendants; on April 13, 1791 he wit­nessed the marriage of Benjamin Going to Elizabeth Stevens in Patrick County, Virginia. The father of the bride was shown as Solomon Stevens, other witnesses were Rachael and Holden McGee. On page 276 of this book is given the lineage of one Ezekiel Shelton, nephew of this Ezekiah (Hezekiah) Shelton, son of Azariah Shelton. Ezekiel, son of Azariah and Sarah Holt Shelton, married Margaret Love at Dayton, Tennessee on April 17, 1828.

Jeremiah Shelton, son of Ralph (5)and Mary Daniel Shelton, was born in Essex County, Virginia about 1740.He is on record as having bought land in Essex County, Virginia on September 1, 1781, which he sold on July 1, 1784. He wed Nancy about 1765. They owned land in Russell County, Virginia, which was sold in 1797. They then likely moved to Kentucky. Jeremiah and Nancy had among other children a son named Asher Shelton, born in Virginia in 1774. Asher moved to Todd County, Kentucky in about 1800 and married Mary Greene who had been born in Todd County in 1784. The names of the other children of Jeremiah and Nancy are not at hand. Their son Asher and wife Mary reportedly had 8 children:Azariah Shelton, son of Ralph (5) and

Mary Daniel Shelton, born in Essex County, Virginia about 1745, wed Sarah Holt, native of Patrick County, Virginia, or rather the portion of Henry County Roger Shellton, son of Ralph(5) and Mary Daniel Shelton, was born in Essex County, Virginia about 1747. There is no record at hand of a wife or children.Katherine Shelton, daughter of Ralph(5) and Mary Daniel Shelton,
born about 1742, married_ Rutherford.

Sarah Shelton, daughter of Ralph(5) and Mary Daniel Shelton, born about 1743, married Robertson, possibly one of the sons of the Henry Robertson born 1720.Elizabeth Shelton, daughter of Ralph(5) and Mary Daniel Shelton, born about 1744, married Arnold, possibly Elisha Arnold, born about 1750, who was in the Revolution from Henry County, Virginia.Rina Shelton, daughter of Ralph(5) and Mary Daniel Shelton, born about 1745, who wed McGehe, possibly William McGehee, born about 1745, who was in Eliphaz Shelton's Company in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on March 11, 178l.

Susannah Shelton, daughter of Ralph(5) and Mary Daniel Shelton,born about 1746, wed _ Jones, possibly Dr. Benjamin Jones,born about 1735, who was in the Revolution from Henry County, Virginia. This was possibly the 2nd wife of Ralph(5).Ralph Shelton(5), following the death of his beloved Mary, wed the second time in about 1777. The name of this wife is not at hand. She is not named in the will which was proved in 1789. There is some likelihood, that Susannah Shelton, a legatee in the will who was named immediately following the names of his 14 children by his first wife may have been the wife instead of a daughter, though he made no he made no distinction.

There were 4 children by his second wife:

Aesop Shelton, son of Ralph Shelton(5) by his second wife, was born about 1779. No record at hand of wife or children.

Abigail Shelton, daughter of Ralph Shelton(5) by his second wife, was born about 1781. No record at hand of wife or children.

Mary Shelton, daughter of Ralph Shelton(5) by his second wife, was born about 1783. No record at hand of marriage or children.

Liberty Shelton, daughter of Ralph Shelton (5) by his second wife, was born about 1785. There's no record at hand of marriage or children.

Patrick County records in the office of County Court Clerk for 1791 show the following Sheltons: Eliphaz Shelton Azariah Shelton Susannah Shelton Palatiah Shelton Ezekiah Shelton Samuel SheltonRalph Shelton James Shelton

These Sheltons, except for the last two listed, are evidently sons of Ralph Shelton(5). Samuel Shelton is son of James who was son of the Ralph across Dragon Swamp, it is not unlikely that Susannah is the widow of Ralph(5), the head of the family now with 4 small children, or she may have been the daughter named on the preceding page, having the responsibility for the 4 young siblings.

Following are some miscellaneous records and other items of inter­est from Patrick County, Virginia noted by this writer in July, 1969.Commerative plaque on J. E. B. Stuart Highway (U.S.58) at east entrance to Patrick County: "Patrick County, area 485 square miles. Formed in 1790 from Henry County and named for Patrick Henry, who thus had two counties named for him. General J. E. B. Stuart was born in this county." On the opposite side of the same plaque — west entrance to Henry County — is the following: "Henry County, area 485 square miles. Formed in 1776 from Pittsylvania County and named for Patrick Henry. Henry lived in the county 1779-1784.Court was held June 13, 1791. Now we find in Deed Book 1, page 347 that on July 11, 1791 Captain Eliphas Shelton, who owned 590 acres on South Mayo River, signed a penalty bond agreement in which he offered to donate 20 acres to the Patrick County Court, sufficient for the new court house and jail, and providing 14 1-acre lots for the county seat town. The deed was signed October 19, 1791. On October 10, 1966, being the 175th anniversary of the founding of the county seat, was the first time the generous gift of the Revo­lutionary War here, namely Captain Eliphaz Shelton, had been suff­iciently recognized. (Here the article refers to Journal of the Roanoke Historical Society, Summer 1965, Volume 2, Number 1, pages 15-19, a treatise by one James H. Martin, Esq., entitled 'Founding of Patrick County’ for copy, the address is given as Box 1904, Roanoke, Virginia.)"Quoting further from The Enterprise "...

Ralph Shelton, father of Captain Eliphaz Shelton, the forgotten hero of our tale, bought 4OO acres of land July 21, 1763 astride south Mayo River and set­tled there with his family. A few years later, May 6, 1771, Ralph Shelton purchased an additional 400 acres adjoining his former purchase..... then following his active service in the Revolu­tionary war, Captain Eliphaz Shelton applied for a grant of land, selecting two adjoining tracts of 400 and 190 acres, bordering his father’s land on both sides of South Mayo River in Henry, (now Patrick) County. ‘The official survey of this grant of land was made by John Dickenson, Henry County surveyor, Book 1, page 197, on file in clerk's office, as of November 25, 1782, Martinsville, Virginia. Following this survey Governor Benjamin Harrison on February 28, 1784 issued a grant of 590 acres of land to Eliphaz Shelton as surveyed in what was then Henry County.

Following are marriage records from files of Patrick County, Vir­ginia courthouse of Shelton kin 1791 to 1821:
4-12
Eliphaz Shelton witnessed the marriage of Isaac Going to Nancy Lizby. Other witnesses: Mary Lizby (mother), Henry Lizby and William Moore.1-19-09
Olive Shelton married Samuel Nolen. Father: Eliphaz Shelton Witness: Fredrick Shelton.

Following are deed records from the Pittsylvania County, Virginia Courthouse pertinent to Shelton history in the 1700’s

Date Grantor Grantee
8-26-68 Palatiah Shelton, Mary (wf)
6-23-69 Abraham Shelton Our Sovereign Lord the King
6-23-69 Abraham Shelton “ “ “ “ “
3-24-70 Abraham Shelton “ “ “ “ “
11-29-70 Palatiah Shelton, Mary (wf) Samuel Crawley
11-29-70 Palatiah Shelton, Mary (wf) Richard White
9-24-72 James Shelton James Hix
9-24-72 James Shelton James Hix
5-27-73 Gabriel Shelton, Elizabeth(wf) Crispin Shelton
6-26-77 Gabriel Shelton, Elizabeth(wf) John Clever
1-22-78 Gabriel Shelton, Elizabeth(wf) James Parham
1-22-78 Gabriel Shelton, Elizabeth(wf) Abraham Shelton
1-22-78 Gabriel Shelton, Elizabeth(wf) William Pace
3-21-78 Abraham Shelton Commonwealth of Virginia 5-26-78 Daniel Shelton, Lettice(wf) Richard Todd
11-26-78 Gabriel Shelton, Elizabeth(wf) Ambrose Buford
11-26-78 Crispen Shelton Spencer Shelton
11-26-78 Crispen Shelton Armistead Shelton
11-26-78 Gabriel Shelton, Elizabeth(wf) Crispen Shelton

Date Grantor Grantee
6-15-79 Crispen Shelton, Lettice (wf) John Parks
10-19-79 Abraham Shelton Jeremiah Ward
11-16-79 Mark Shelton and Wife William Hardy
4-14-79 Daniel Shelton Justices of Pittsylvania Co.
8-15-80 Crispen Shelton “ “ “ “
8-15-80 Crispen Shelton “ “ “ “
8-19-80 Crispen Shelton Governor of Virginia
8-19-80 Crispen Shelton
11-21-80 Crispen and Daniel Shelton Thomas Jefferson, Governor
12-19-80 Gabriel and Crispen Shelton Treasurer of the Commonwealth
11-20-81 Abraham Shelton Justices of Pittsylvania Co,
3-19-82 Spencer Shelton, Clary M.(wf) Vincent Shelton
3-19-82 Benjamin Shelton Joel Shelton
5-16-86 Beverly and Crispen Shelton Jasquelin Ambler
1-15-87 Spencer Shelton Elkhannah Adams
1-15-87 Abraham Shelton William Shelton
1-15-87 Abraham Shelton William Clark
6-18-87 Abraham Shelton Vincent Shelton
7-16-87 Benjamin Shelton, Sr. Leonard Shelton
7-16-87 Benjamin Shelton, Sr. Vincent Shelton
5-18-89 Crispen Shelton James Hinton
3-15-90 Crispen Jr,and Benjamin Shelton Justices of Pittsylvania Co.
3-15-90 Crispen Jr,and Benjamin Shelton “ “ “
5-17-91 Vincent Shelton Jacquelin Ambler
5-17-91 Vincent Shelton Gideon Roach
10-17-91 Crispen Jr,Abraham,William Shelton Humphrey Richards
12-19-91 Crispen Shelton Daniel Coleman

Date Grantor Grantee
6-19-97 Vincent Shelton John Shelton
7-17-97 Benjamin Shelton, Nancy (wf) Joshua stone

Date Husband Wife Witnesses
5-12-00 John Shelton Sarah McLaughlin Charles and Sarah McLaughlin
3-17-00 Charles Shelton Elizabeth Flippin Joseph Flippin
7-21-00 David Shelton Rhoda Hurt Benjamin and Elizabeth
Shelton, md Thomas Payne




RALPH SHELTON, SR. OF HENRY COUNTY, VA
Ralph Shelton, son of Ralph Shelton and his wife, Mary (surname unknown, believed by some to be Crispin) was born in Middlesex County, VA on 23 October 1709. He married 1st Mary Daniel on 10 June 1731. Both events are recorded in the Christ Church Parish Register, Middlesex Co, VA. He lived in Essex, Amelia, and Lunenburg Counties, VA. By 1776 he was living in Henry Co, VA when he bought 119 ½ acres of land from John Sims then in 1777 with wife, Susannah, sold it to Robert Baker (the sale deed says Ralph Shelton, Jr. though the purchase deed says Ralph Shelton). 23 April 1787, when the will was proved 30 March 1789 he had another wife, Elizabeth (maiden name unknown), who survived him. ESTATE SETTLEMENT RECORDS (Henry and Patrick Cos, VA)The LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of RALPH SHELTON SR was written 23 April 1787 and proved 30 March 1789. It is recorded in HENRY COUNTY, VA WILL BOOK I: pg 171. See the complete transcript of this will. Securities for the Executor Eliphaz Shelton are Stephen Lyon and John Parr Jr.HENRY COUNTY, VA, WILL BOOK I: pg 174. Inventory and Appraisement of Estate of RALPH SHELTON. 30 May 1789, Returned 29 June 1789 by William Carter, George Carter. Money scales, a still, furniture, livestock. T:51.10.6,HENRY COUNTY, VA, WILL BOOK I: pgs 217-219. Account estate RALPH SHELTON with Eliphaz Shelton, exor. Purchases for estate.. cash from William Hooker. Pd Clerk of Pittsylvania Co; John Redd, Col. Hughes, Samuel Annett, M. Lawson, boarding widow and 5 children for l year; corn for widow and 3 children for 1 year; same for widow and 4 children 5 mos; 9 mos for board of 2 chldren..pd Capt. Willliam Carter.We have settled the account current of the estate of Ralph Shelton. signed: James Lyon, Edward Tatum, William Carter.HENRY COUNTY, VA WILL BOOK II: pgs 226-228. Account RALPH SHELTON 24 Nov 1814. Ret Aug Ct 1815In acct with Eliphaz Shelton.July 23, 1789, Bond 9 yrs interest; tax 1785-1789; pd Pittsylvania Co. tax, John Redd; Tax for 1786; Pd Clerks Ticket for citing the decedant levy free; Coffin and winding sheet; Col. Hughes; Moorman Lauson (Lawson?); Bread corn for widow and 3 children one year; Same for Widow and 4 children 3 months; 9 months board for 2 children Capt. William Carter; John Henderson; Alexander Askin in Amalia County; board and schooling for one boy a legatee 5 years 6 months; James Shelton; John Davis; James Harrison; Winding sheet for Mrs. Shelton; Interest on the 10 pounds pd James Harrison 1764 to 1789, 25 years. Received money from sales and from rent of the plantation from 1790-1794+ + + + +HENRY COUNTY, VA, GENERAL INDEX TO ENDED LAW AND CHANCERY, COUNTY COURT FROM 1777 TO 1904. (SHELTON PORTION). From the microfilm at Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT)1789 Book 5 Page 25. Ralph Shelton, Estate: State appraisors appointed, Last Will & Testament.1789 Book 5 Page 47. Esup Shelton, Bound out according to law, orphan of Ralph Shelton1789 Book 5 Page 47. Ralph Shelton, Est. Inventory of his estate returned to be recorded.1789 Book 5 Page 51. Elizabeth Shelton. Relinquished her claim on the estate of her husband.1790 Book 5 Page 152. Elizabeth Shelton Ptf. Ezekiah Shelton Def. Power of Attorney proved and o. r. (o. r. =ordered recorded)1791 Book 5 Page 161. Abigal, Mary & Liberty. Ordered that the overseer of the poor bind them out according to law. Orphan of Ralph Shelton.1791 Book 5 Page 162. Elizabeth Shelton, Ptf. Eliphaz Shelton, Def. Their award to be the judgment of the court.1791 Book 5 Page 176. Hezekiah Shelton, Ptf., Ralph Shelton, decd., Def. Award returned.1791 Book 5 Page 227. Eliphaz Shelton. Ordered that he appear at next court to render an acct. current of the est. of Ralph Shelton decd, which is in his hands.1791 Book 5 Page 236. Ralph Shelton sr., decd. Appraisors to his estate Appointed.1791 Book 5 Page 245. Men appointed to lay off the third part of his estate for the benefit of Eliz. Shelton, widow of Ralph.1792 Book 6 Page 4. An account current of said Shelton estate returned.1792 Book 6 Page 5. Ralph Shelton, decd. Men appointed to resettle the account current of said Shelton. Make report to court.1814 Book 10 Page 198. Ralph Shelton est. Commissioners appointed to settle the account current of his estate.+ + + + +ABSTRACTS OF ORDER BOOK 'O', PATRICK COUNTY, VA; JUNE 1791-AUGUST 1800>From a book compiled by Lela C. Adams, Sherwood Forest, Basset, VA 24055Order Book "O", Page 11, Court, September 1792. On a motion of Stephen Lyon judgment is granted him against John Smith for the administration of a judgment obtained by Eliphaz Shelton, executor of Ralph Shelton as security for said Smith. Order Book "O", Page 32, Court, Tuesday, 14 May 1793 (Pg 13, printed book)Samuel Staples against Eliphaz Shelton as Guardian for Esop Shelton, Abigail Shelton, Liberty Shelton, and Mary Shelton. Abram Penn attorney for Ralph Shelton Jr, Palatiah Shelton, Jeremiah Shelton, William McGehee and Julius Robertson also Dudley Rutherford, William Arnold, William Jones, Roger Shelton, Azariah Shelton, Ezekiah Shelton, James Shelton. heirs of Ralph Shelton, dec'd. defendants. - The defendants Dudley Rutherford, William Jones, and William Arnold not having given security and not inhabitants of this county. The defendants are to appear the 2nd Monday of August and answer complaint. Copy to be inserted in the Virginia Gazette for two months.Order Book "O", Page 41, Court Wednesday 14 August 1793. Eliphaz Shelton appointed guardian for Esop Shelton, Abigail Shelton, Mary Shelton, Liberty Shelton infants and heirs of Ralph Shelton dec'd to answer a Bill in Chancery exhibited against James Shelton. Order Book "O", Page 81, Court l October 1794. Samuel Staples vs Eliphaz Shelton guardian for Easop Shelton, Abigail Shelton, Liberty Shelton, Mary Shelton and also Abraham Penn attorney in fact for Ralph Shelton, Palitiah Shelton, Jeremiah Shelton, William McGehe, Julious Roberson, Dudley Rutherford, William Jones, William Arnold, Roger Shelton, Azariah Shelton, Ezekiah Shelton, and James Shelton heirs of Ralph Shelton, dec'd Defendants. The Defendants not having appeared it is ordered that George Carter, Edward Tatum, Nathaniel Smith, William Smith Jr and David Hanby are appointed Commissioners to lay off and divide the land named in the Complaint.Order Book "O", Page 83, (No date change entered between the item above and the one following - date apparently l October 1794?) James Shelton and wife against Easop Shelton, Abigail Shelton, Liberty Shelton, Mary Shelton, Ralph Shelton, Palitiah Shelton Jeremiah Shelton, William McGehe, Julious Roberson, Dudley Rutherford, William Arnold, William Jones, Roger Shelton, Azariah Shelton, Ezekiah Shelton, Eliphaz Shelton, heirs of Ralph Shelton dec'd Defendants. The Defendants waving all errors and not gain saying the claim of Complainants. It is ordered that the land according to the Poayer of said Bill be decreed to them. Order Book "O", Page 83, Saturday l November 1794. James Shelton and wife Susannah to Samuel Staples, a Deed.(Same date and page) William Carter, Jonathan Hanby, Edward Tatum and James Taylor or any 3 appointed to lay off and allot the widow and relict of Ralph Shelton dec'd of the residue of land of which Ralph Shelton died seized of after deducting J. Shelton and wifes claim.Order Book "O", Page 93, Court, Thursday 27 March 1795. Deed - James Shelton and wife Susannah to Samuel Staples.+ + + + +PATRICK COUNTY, VA DEED BOOK 1, 1791-1801. Published by TLC GENEALOGY, P. O. Box 403369, Miami Beach, FL 403369Deed Book Page 270. Nov 1, 1794 From James Shelton & wife of Patrick County, VA to Samuel Staples of Patrick County, Va, for 20 pounds, about 90 acres in Patrick County on South Mayo River, it being a part of the land Ralph Shelton died seized of, and bounded by the lower line where it crosses the Mayo River, then with the meanders of the River to the mouth of Moody branch, thence to sd Ralph Shelton's old line, then along that to the Dwelling House of sd James Shelton, to the beginning, it being the same land that was yesterday decreed by the Patrick Court to sd James Shelton & wife. The land is warranted against me, my heirs, my wife Susannah, and her heirs. Signed - James (S his mark) Shelton, Susannah (I her mark) Shelton. Wit - Wm. Adams, John (X his mark) Clark, Peter (/ his mark) Shelton. Recorded Mar 27 1795.

Susannah Shelton, wife of Ralph Shelton
Susannah Shelton was not the wife of Ralph Shelton who was married to Mary Daniel. Ralph, widower of Mary Daniel, did marry a second time as his widow was a woman named "Elizabeth"; however, no record of this marriage has been found, to date. There is a deed in Henry County, Virginia, which prove Susannah was the wife of Ralph Shelton, III, who was the son of Ralph Shelton,II, and Mary Daniel. Ralph Shelton who married Mary Daniel was literate, proven by the fact that he signed his name to his will on file in Henry County, VA, as well as on several deeds where he sold land, in his move from Essex County, VA, to Henry County, VA. Ralph Shelton, III, was not literate and signed his name by mark, using a very distinctive mark. Also, in the records of Pittsylvania County and Henry County, VA, Ralph Shelton who married Mary Daniel is referred to as "Ralph Shelton, Sr." and his son, Ralph Shelton, III, who married Susannah is referred to as "Ralph Shelton, Jr.". One has to remember that in these two Counties on the Virginia frontier of that time, no one knew Ralph Shelton,I, who had died in 1733 and it was logical to refer to Ralph Shelton who married Mary Daniel as "Ralph Shelton,Sr." and his son, Ralph Shelton, III, as "Ralph Shelton, Jr.". By the way, this Ralph Shelton, III, died in Knox County, Tennessee, about 1816. This is the deed which proves Susannah married Ralph Shelton, III: Sept, 1777 Henry County, VA., Deed Book 1, page 70. From Ralph Shelton to Robert Baker, a deed which gave rise to the confusion that Ralph Shelton, Sr., was married to a woman named Susannah. This deed is signed by mark, being a capital "R". There is no question this deed is from the Henry County Ralph Shelton, Jr. and not his father, the Henry County Ralph Shelton, Sr., who signed his own name. Later Tennessee records of this Ralph Shelton are signed with the same "R" mark. I knew and worked with Margaret Alford, whose death several years ago was a great lost to Shelton genealogy. We worked together on the question Susannah and together determined Susannh was not the wife of Ralph, II, but was the wife of his son, Ralph, III.


RALPH SHELTON, SR. OF HENRY COUNTY, VA
Ralph Shelton, son of Ralph Shelton and his wife, Mary (surname unknown, believed by some to be Crispin) was born in Middlesex County, VA on 23 October 1709. He married 1st Mary Daniel on 10 June 1731. Both events are recorded in the Christ Church Parish Register, Middlesex Co, VA. He lived in Essex, Amelia, and Lunenburg Counties, VA. By 1776 he was living in Henry Co, VA when he bought 119 ½ acres of land from John Sims then in 1777 with wife, Susannah, sold it to Robert Baker (the sale deed says Ralph Shelton, Jr. though the purchase deed says Ralph Shelton). 23 April 1787, when the will was proved 30 March 1789 he had another wife, Elizabeth (maiden name unknown), who survived him.

ESTATE SETTLEMENT RECORDS (Henry and Patrick Cos, VA)

The LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of RALPH SHELTON SR was written 23 April 1787 and proved 30 March 1789. It is recorded in HENRY COUNTY, VA WILL BOOK I: pg 171. See the complete transcript of this will. Securities for the Executor Eliphaz Shelton are Stephen Lyon and John Parr Jr.

HENRY COUNTY, VA, WILL BOOK I: pg 174. Inventory and Appraisement of Estate of RALPH SHELTON. 30 May 1789, Returned 29 June 1789 by William Carter, George Carter. Money scales, a still, furniture, livestock. T:51.10.6,

HENRY COUNTY, VA, WILL BOOK I: pgs 217-219. Account estate RALPH SHELTON with Eliphaz Shelton, exor.

Purchases for estate.. cash from William Hooker. Pd Clerk of Pittsylvania Co; John Redd, Col. Hughes, Samuel Annett, M. Lawson, boarding widow and 5 children for l year; corn for widow and 3 children for 1 year; same for widow and 4 children 5 mos; 9 mos for board of 2 chldren..pd Capt. Willliam Carter.

We have settled the account current of the estate of Ralph Shelton. signed: James Lyon, Edward Tatum, William Carter.

HENRY COUNTY, VA WILL BOOK II: pgs 226-228. Account RALPH SHELTON 24 Nov 1814. Ret Aug Ct 1815

In acct with Eliphaz Shelton.

July 23, 1789, Bond 9 yrs interest; tax 1785-1789; pd Pittsylvania Co. tax, John Redd; Tax for 1786; Pd Clerks Ticket for citing the decedant levy free; Coffin and winding sheet; Col. Hughes; Moorman Lauson (Lawson?); Bread corn for widow and 3 children one year; Same for Widow and 4 children 3 months; 9 months board for 2 children Capt. William Carter; John Henderson; Alexander Askin in Amalia County; board and schooling for one boy a legatee 5 years 6 months; James Shelton; John Davis; James Harrison; Winding sheet for Mrs. Shelton; Interest on the 10 pounds pd James Harrison 1764 to 1789, 25 years. Received money from sales and from rent of the plantation from 1790-1794

+ + + + +
HENRY COUNTY, VA, GENERAL INDEX TO ENDED LAW AND CHANCERY, COUNTY COURT FROM 1777 TO 1904. (SHELTON PORTION). From the microfilm at Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT)
1789 Book 5 Page 25. Ralph Shelton, Estate: State appraisors appointed, Last Will & Testament.
1789 Book 5 Page 47. Esup Shelton, Bound out according to law, orphan of Ralph Shelton
1789 Book 5 Page 47. Ralph Shelton, Est. Inventory of his estate returned to be recorded.
1789 Book 5 Page 51. Elizabeth Shelton. Relinquished her claim on the estate of her husband.
1790 Book 5 Page 152. Elizabeth Shelton Ptf. Ezekiah Shelton Def. Power of Attorney proved and o. r. (o. r. =ordered recorded)
1791 Book 5 Page 161. Abigal, Mary & Liberty. Ordered that the overseer of the poor bind them out according to law. Orphan of Ralph Shelton.
1791 Book 5 Page 162. Elizabeth Shelton, Ptf. Eliphaz Shelton, Def. Their award to be the judgment of the court.
1791 Book 5 Page 176. Hezekiah Shelton, Ptf., Ralph Shelton, decd., Def. Award returned.
1791 Book 5 Page 227. Eliphaz Shelton. Ordered that he appear at next court to render an acct. current of the est. of Ralph Shelton decd, which is in his hands.
1791 Book 5 Page 236. Ralph Shelton sr., decd. Appraisors to his estate Appointed.
1791 Book 5 Page 245. Men appointed to lay off the third part of his estate for the benefit of Eliz. Shelton, widow of Ralph.
1792 Book 6 Page 4. An account current of said Shelton estate returned.
1792 Book 6 Page 5. Ralph Shelton, decd. Men appointed to resettle the account current of said Shelton. Make report to court.
1814 Book 10 Page 198. Ralph Shelton est. Commissioners appointed to settle the account current of his estate.

ABSTRACTS OF ORDER BOOK 'O', PATRICK COUNTY, VA; JUNE 1791-AUGUST 1800
>From a book compiled by Lela C. Adams, Sherwood Forest, Basset, VA 24055

Order Book "O", Page 11, Court, September 1792. On a motion of Stephen Lyon judgment is granted him against John Smith for the administration of a judgment obtained by Eliphaz Shelton, executor of Ralph Shelton as security for said Smith.

Order Book "O", Page 32, Court, Tuesday, 14 May 1793 (Pg 13, printed book)
Samuel Staples against Eliphaz Shelton as Guardian for Esop Shelton, Abigail Shelton, Liberty Shelton, and Mary Shelton. Abram Penn attorney for Ralph Shelton Jr, Palatiah Shelton, Jeremiah Shelton, William McGehee and Julius Robertson also Dudley Rutherford, William Arnold, William Jones, Roger Shelton, Azariah Shelton, Ezekiah Shelton, James Shelton. heirs of Ralph Shelton, dec'd. defendants. - The defendants Dudley Rutherford, William Jones, and William Arnold not having given security and not inhabitants of this county. The defendants are to appear the 2nd Monday of August and answer complaint. Copy to be inserted in the Virginia Gazette for two months.

Order Book "O", Page 41, Court Wednesday 14 August 1793. Eliphaz Shelton appointed guardian for Esop Shelton, Abigail Shelton, Mary Shelton, Liberty Shelton infants and heirs of Ralph Shelton dec'd to answer a Bill in Chancery exhibited against James Shelton.

Order Book "O", Page 81, Court l October 1794. Samuel Staples vs Eliphaz Shelton guardian for Easop Shelton, Abigail Shelton, Liberty Shelton, Mary Shelton and also Abraham Penn attorney in fact for Ralph Shelton, Palitiah Shelton, Jeremiah Shelton, William McGehe, Julious Roberson, Dudley Rutherford, William Jones, William Arnold, Roger Shelton, Azariah Shelton, Ezekiah Shelton, and James Shelton heirs of Ralph Shelton, dec'd Defendants. The Defendants not having appeared it is ordered that George Carter, Edward Tatum, Nathaniel Smith, William Smith Jr and David Hanby are appointed Commissioners to lay off and divide the land named in the Complaint.

Order Book "O", Page 83, (No date change entered between the item above and the one following - date apparently l October 1794?) James Shelton and wife against Easop Shelton, Abigail Shelton, Liberty Shelton, Mary Shelton, Ralph Shelton, Palitiah Shelton Jeremiah Shelton, William McGehe, Julious Roberson, Dudley Rutherford, William Arnold, William Jones, Roger Shelton, Azariah Shelton, Ezekiah Shelton, Eliphaz Shelton, heirs of Ralph Shelton dec'd Defendants. The Defendants waving all errors and not gain saying the claim of Complainants. It is ordered that the land according to the Poayer of said Bill be decreed to them.

Order Book "O", Page 83, Saturday l November 1794. James Shelton and wife Susannah to Samuel Staples, a Deed.
(Same date and page) William Carter, Jonathan Hanby, Edward Tatum and James Taylor or any 3 appointed to lay off and allot the widow and relict of Ralph Shelton dec'd of the residue of land of which Ralph Shelton died seized of after deducting J. Shelton and wifes claim.

Order Book "O", Page 93, Court, Thursday 27 March 1795. Deed - James Shelton and wife Susannah to Samuel Staples.

PATRICK COUNTY, VA DEED BOOK 1, 1791-1801. Published by TLC GENEALOGY, P. O. Box 403369, Miami Beach, FL 403369
Deed Book Page 270. Nov 1, 1794 From James Shelton & wife of Patrick County, VA to Samuel Staples of Patrick County, Va, for 20 pounds, about 90 acres in Patrick County on South Mayo River, it being a part of the land Ralph Shelton died seized of, and bounded by the lower line where it crosses the Mayo River, then with the meanders of the River to the mouth of Moody branch, thence to sd Ralph Shelton's old line, then along that to the Dwelling House of sd James Shelton, to the beginning, it being the same land that was yesterday decreed by the Patrick Court to sd James Shelton & wife. The land is warranted against me, my heirs, my wife Susannah, and her heirs. Signed - James (S his mark) Shelton, Susannah (I her mark) Shelton. Wit - Wm. Adams, John (X his mark) Clark, Peter (/ his mark) Shelton. Recorded Mar 27 1795.

Susannah Shelton was not the wife of Ralph Shelton who was married to Mary Daniel. Ralph, widower of Mary Daniel, did marry a second time as his widow was a woman named "Elizabeth"; however, no record of this marriage has been found, to date. There is a deed in Henry County, Virginia, which prove Susannah was the wife of Ralph Shelton, III, who was the son of Ralph Shelton,II, and Mary Daniel. Ralph Shelton who married Mary Daniel was literate, proven by the fact that he signed his name to his will on file in Henry County, VA, as well as on several deeds where he sold land, in his move from Essex County, VA, to Henry County, VA. Ralph Shelton, III, was not literate and signed his name by mark, using a very distinctive mark. Also, in the records of Pittsylvania County and Henry County, VA, Ralph Shelton who married Mary Daniel is referred to as "Ralph Shelton, Sr." and his son, Ralph Shelton, III, who married Susannah is referred to as "Ralph Shelton, Jr.". One has to remember that in these two Counties on the Virginia frontier of that time, no one knew Ralph Shelton,I, who had died in 1733 and it was logical to refer to Ralph Shelton who married Mary Daniel as "Ralph Shelton,Sr." and his son, Ralph Shelton, III, as "Ralph Shelton, Jr.". By the way, this Ralph Shelton, III, died in Knox County, Tennessee, about 1816. This is the deed which proves Susannah married Ralph Shelton, III: Sept, 1777 Henry County, VA., Deed Book 1, page 70. From Ralph Shelton to Robert Baker, a deed which gave rise to the confusion that Ralph Shelton, Sr., was married to a woman named Susannah. This deed is signed by mark, being a capital "R". There is no question this deed is from the Henry County Ralph Shelton, Jr. and not his father, the Henry County Ralph Shelton, Sr., who signed his own name. Later Tennessee records of this Ralph Shelton are signed with the same "R" mark. I knew and worked with Margaret Alford, whose death several years ago was a great lost to Shelton genealogy. We worked together on the question Susannah and together determined Susannh was not the wife of Ralph, II, but was the wife of his son, Ralph, III.

Ralph married Mary Daniel on 10 Jun 1731 in Christ Church, Middlesex, Virginia, USA. Mary was born on 7 Mar 1714 in Christ Church, Middlesex, Virginia, USA; died in 1766 in , Henry, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

William was born ca 1698, probably in Sweden. He was brought to America by his parents at about the age of seven and was raised in New Castle County, Delaware. He married Magdalena Petersson, daughter of Peter and Karin Petersson, at Holy Trininity Church in New Castle County, Delaware on April 21, 1720. The Peterssons were a Swedish family. The last record of the William Vardaman family in Delaware is the baptism of a daughter in 1724. William next appears in the Rockfish Gap area on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains in what is now Albemarle County, VA, but was then in Goochland County in 1734. By 1744 he has moved a little further south to the Peaks of Otter area of the Blue Ridge Mountains in what is now Bedford County, VA. In 1744 this area was in Brunswick County and later, in 1746, in Lunenburg County. Bedford County was created out of Lunenburg in 1754. In 1766 William with his second (or possibly third) wife and youngest son, James, relocated to the Dutch Fork area of what is now Newberry County, South Carolina, but was then in Craven County and later included in the judicial division known as Ninety Six District. William purchased 150 acres on the south side of the Enoree River on Indian Creek on 13 Dec 1766. The deed refers to William as a merchant. William died ca 1789 in Newberry County naming his wife Bridgit and four sons John, William, Jr., Peter and James, in order in his will. The first three were probably f from his first wife, Magdalena Petersson, while the last son, James, was probably with his last wife, Bridgit Tinkler. Based on details included in the various biographies of his grandson, Rev. Jeremiah Vardeman of Kentucky and Missouri, William raised a very large family. Since there were only 4 sons, there are likely several daughters. Unfortunately, we know the names of only two: Maria and Jemima. While it can't be proven, there is likely another daughter named Frances who married Peter Bennett. Beyond this we are unable to conjecture with any degree of confidence on the names of any additional daughters.

Will of William Vardaman
Will Book 'B', page 382, filed in Ninety-Six District, SC, written 24February 1783,proven 3 March 1789

In the name of God Aaamen the twenty fourth day of February one thousand seven hundred and Eighty three I William Vardman of Ninety Six District in the State of South Catolina Farmer

William + Magdelena Peterson. Magdelena (daughter of Peter Petersson and Karin) was born in 1706 in , New Castle, Delaware, USA; died in 1752 in , Bedford, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Magdalena Vardeman

Notes:

By 1707, Ralph Shelton's name is found on the Christ Church Parish Register with the birth record of his first child, Thomas Shelton.

Ralph Shelton supposedly married Mary CRISPEN c1706 in Middlesex Co., VA. She was reported to have been the daughter of Thomas and Mary (LONG) CRISPEN who married 18 May 1687. This not proven. Mary remarried after her husband's death in 1734 to William CLARK.

From VA Vital Records #1 1600-1800 (Family Tree Maker CD #174), Broderbund, pages 259-260 of "Abstracts of VA Wills of Pittsylvania Co., VA 1803-1860", printed in "The Magazine of History and Biography - The William and Mary Quarterly and Tylers Quarterly", will of Mary CLOCK (sic), Parish of Nottoway, Amelia County, was dated 30 Jun 1750, probated 29 Aug 1770 (Mary had died in 1765). This document was witnessed by Crespen (sic) SHELTON, and John SHELTON. She named her "legitimate sons" Ralph Shelton, John Shelton, Crispen Shelton, Benjamin Shelton, James Shelton, and grandchildren Reuben Shelton and Patience Catesby BLOCKEY to whom she gave 1 shilling sterling. She gave her daughter Elizabeth DAVID (the name was actually DAVIS) the best of her wearing clothes, and her son Daniel Shelton and his heirs all the rest of her estate.

Prior to the Oct. 10, 1702 Middlesex Co, VA County Court Session, Ralph SHELTON was imported to North America, along with six other persons, by Thomas Merriwether (who was granted a headright for this importation): source - Essex County, VA Court Order Book 1699-1702, (Deeds and Wills Vol 10, p. 133). Ralph's surname was spelled SHELDON in this document. Probably, he was at least 18 years of age.

Researcher and author, Ken Shelton, who has a copy of the will, said that Merriwether wrote in his will (Essex Co. Deed & Will Book 1707-1711, p. 185-187): ...I give unto Ralph Shelton & his heirs forever sixty five acres of land granted to me by Patent beginning to the lands of RICE JONES *see note below & John Leh__le the land formerly belonging to Capt Edward Thomas..... At the end of the document, Ralph is a WITNESS to the will as well. This means Ralph could read and write, and was educated to some extent. The clerk transcribed his signature as Ralph Shelteon even though he spelled it Shelton within the text of the will itself. Dated 27 Jan 1708/9, probated 10 Feb 1708/9. The land was near the Dragon Swamp of Essex County (later Middlesex County). What relationship there might have been is unknown, but usually this type of bequest indicated a strong relationship.

After his importation, Ralph Shelton lived in Middlesex Co., VA for the remainder of his life. He was listed as a Surveyor and Appraiser, and primary occupation as a planter. Ralph was qualified as a general county road maintenance surveyor based on an entry in the Christ Church Vestry Book (page 201 of original, November to March, year not noted in book but context places it c1727, "ordered that Mr. Garrot Daniel and Mr. Ralph Shelton procession every particular person's land between Briery Swamp (from the Millstone Valley to the Dragon Swamp), and the upper end of the county, and from the main road to the Dragon Swamp, on the south side of the main road". Birth and baptismal records on most of Ralph's children are given in Christ Church Register.

Ralph Shelton's will was dated 10 Mar 1733 in Middlesex Co., VA., and proven in 02 Apr 1734. Elizabeth Davis (daughter), his wife Mary Shelton and his son Thomas Shelton were appointed as his executors.




He died Middlesex Co., Va. 1733. His will is recorded in Middlesex Co. Will Book B, 1712-1734, p. 418-419. March 10, 1733. His death is recorded in Christ Church Parish Register, Middlesex Co., Va. No marriage record has been found. The births of their children are recorded in Christ Church Parish Register, Middlesex Co., Va. The first child is recorded born in 1707, so they were likely married l705-1706.

Recorded in Essex County Deeds & Wills, Book No. 10, 1699-1702, p.133, is a record of Thomas Merriwether claiming land for having imported Ralph to the Colony of Virginia, a "headright" claim. There is no record of an indenture having been served by Ralph and, at his death, Thomas Merriwether left the land he received for the importation to Ralph Shelton. Merriwether's will states his relationship to every other heir in his will except Ralph. Ralph was a witness to Merriwether's will, signing his own name as "Ralph Shelteon". Merriwether's will is recorded in Essex Co, VA.

At his death in 1733, Ralph left this land to his oldest son, Thomas, who died ten years later, in 1742. His death is recorded in Christ Church Parish Register. Thomas left the land he inherited from his father, Ralph, to his eldest son, Reuben. Reuben later sold the land.

There is no Peter Shelton on this line as claimed. In the Christ Church Parish Register, Middlesex Co, Va. where the births of this man's children are recorded his name is recorded as "Chilton" not "Shelton". His will does not mention a Ralph.

The births of the children of Ralph and Mary Shelton are recorded in Christ Church Parish Register, Middlesex Co, Va.

2. Thomas, b. 11-9-1707, d. 3-24-1742. He married Mary Probert on 1-14-1730. His death and their marriage are recorded in Christ Church Parish Register. His estate records are recorded in Middlesex County Order Book 15, pages 424, 423, 441, 471; and Order Book 16, pages 12, 61.
Thomas and Mary's children -- births recorded in Christ Church Parish Register -- were:
3. Reuben b. 5-16-1733
3. Josiah b. 1735
3. Mary b. 2-21-1737/8 d. 8-5-1742
3. Thomas b. 5-2-1740
3. Micajah b. 6-20-1742

2. Ralph, b. 10-23-1709, d. 1789 in Henry Co., Va. He married Mary Daniel 6-10-1731 and at her death married Elizabeth (surname unknown). It has been argued that Ralph married a Susannah between Mary and Elizabeth. However, it became clear that the deed giving rise to the confusion on record in Henry Co. was that of the son Ralph, III (called Ralph, Jr., in Henry Co.). The evidence of this was (1) Ralph, d. 1789, was literate and signed his own name; and (2) there is a deed in Lunenburg Co. where Ralph and Elizabeth--with Elizabeth signing as wife--sold land in 1778 with the body of the deed stating they were "of Henry Co." at the time of the sale. That deed covered land which was a grant to Ralph, the father, in Lunenburg Co. Court Order books in Henry County where records concerning the filing of the will and handling of the estate are recorded refer to Elizabeth as "the widow and relick" of Ralph Shelton, Sr.

The children of Ralph and his various wives are:
3. Azariah
3. Ezekiah
3. Aesop
3. Jeremiah
3..Mary
3. John
3. Ralph
3. Paletiah
3. Roger
3. Abbegial
3. Eliphaz
3. Liberty
3. James
3. Katherine
3. Sarah
3. Elizabeth
3. Rhea
3. Susannah

2. Crispin, b. 4-1-1713 d. 1794 m. Lettetia m. 2d Lettice. No Marriage bond or surname of have been found. His will is filed in Pittsylvania Deed and Will Book 9, page 524.
The children of Crispin are:
3. Abraham -will recorded Pitt. Deed and Will Book 11, page 182
3. Gabriel - will recorded Pitt. Deed and Will Book 11, p254
3. Lewis
3. Armistead -b. 1753, d. 1844 - will recorded Pitt. Co. Will Book 1, page 494
3. Beverly
3. Spencer
3. Vincent
3. Elizabeth
3. Lucy
3. Jane
3. Susanne
3. William (His birth is recorded in 1735 but
is presumed to have died.)

2. Reuben b. 2-1-1715, d. 10-18-1715
2. Mary b. 1-21-1716, d. 7-18-1719

Reuben and Mary died in Middlesex Co. and their deaths are recorded in the Christ Church Parish Register.

2. Catherine b. 1-26-1719 m. 12-31-1743 George Blakely
2. Elizabeth b. Elizabeth m. William Davis
2. John b. 7-14-1722, d. 1804 m. Elizabeth____. His will is recorded in Pittsylvania Deed and Will Book 11, p. 269.
The children of John are:
3. Abraham
3. Jane
3. France
3. William
3. Joel
3. Claibone
3. Martha
3. Charlotte
3. Lucy
3. Nancy
3. Lettice
3. Mary

2. Benjamin b. 6-18-1724, d. 1799.
2. James b. 2-23-1726, d. 1798, m. Jane_____. His will is recorded in Lunenburg County Will Book 4, p. 228.
The children of John are:
3. Rachel
3. Heniretta
3. Benjamin
3. Caty
3. Stephen
3. David
3. Thomas

2. Daniel b. 5-17-1729, d. 1808/9 m. Letttice ____. The surname of Lettice is given often as "Young" which is based strictly on the name of one of the sons. Daniel's will is filed in Pittsylvania County Deed and Will Book 11, page 332.
The children of Daniel are:
3. Susanne
3. Clary
3. Milly
3. Ann
3. Polly
3. Young
3. Leroy
3. Daniel
3. Tunstall
3. Willis


It is to be noted that there were two Ralph Sheltons in early Virginia. One was Ralph Shelton of Essex-Middlesex Co (Middlesex and Essex Counties are adjacent along the Western shore of Chesapeake Bay) and the other is Ralph Shelton of King and Queen Co (West of Middlesex and Essex Counties; it was subdivided in 1702 and King William Co was carved out). The two Ralphs lived on opposide sides of the Dragon Swamp and were about 15 years apart in age. The Essex-Middlesex Co Ralph Shelton was imported in 1702 and married in 1707; he is presumed to have been born about 1685. He was the ancestor of the Sarah Shelton who married Patrick Henry. The King William Co Ralph Shelton was born, according to Ellis Family records, on 25 Sept 1698 in King and Queen Co, a son of Sarah Shelton who married Richard C. Gissage, merchant from London, who settled at Acquinton, St. Peters Parish, New Kent County.

“The History of Pittsylvania County, Virginia,” by Maud Carter Clement, has confused the two Ralphs. Ms. Clement discusses Crispen Shelton and says he “was the son of Ralph Shelton and his wife Mary Pollard. She wrote that “Ralph Shelton was the son of Sarah Shelton and Richard Gassage of New Kent, and for some reaon retained his mother’s name. Tradition says that Sarah Shelton and Richard Shelton were the emigrant chidren of a ship’s captain who drowned in the english Channel in 1691.” Crispen Shelton was actually the son of the Middlesex Co Ralph and his wife Mary, whose surname has been guessed to have been Crispen. Unfortunately, appearance of an incorrect interpretation in a book means that more people take it as fact, and the incorrect attribution of Ralph Shelton (the King William Co one) and Mary Pollard as the parents of Crispen Shelton has gone viral; a check of Ancestry.com public family trees on 30 Sep 2011 showed no fewer than 247 trees that contain this incorrect family relationship.

Ralph apparently spent his entire life in Middlesex County as a planter, since he died there in 1733. In his will, dated 10 March 1733, he mentioned his sons Ralph, Thomas, Crispin, his daughter Elizabeth Davis and his wife Mary. He stated that in case his son Thomas should die, he wished his sons Ralph and Crispin would take care of his (Thomas's) children.

Thomas died five years later (1738). After Ralph's death, his widow married William Clark or Clock. Mentioned in her will were sons Crispin Shelton, John Shelton, Benjamin Shelton, James Shelton, Ralph Shelton, Daniel Shelton, grandchildren Reuben Shelton, and Patience Catesby Blakey and daughter Elizabeth Davis. Mary Crispin Shelton Clark was of Nottaway, Amelia County,Virginia.

Prior to the Oct. 10, 1702 Middlesex Co, VA County Court Session, Ralph SHELTON was imported to North America, along with six other persons, by Thomas Merriwether (who was granted a headright for this importation). Ralph's surname was spelled SHELDON. Probably, he was at least 18 years of age. After his importation, Ralph Shelton lived in Middlesex Co., VA for the remainder of his life.

By 1707, Ralph Shelton's name is found on the Christ Church Parish Register with the birth record of his first child, Thomas Shelton.

He was listed as a Surveyor and Appraiser, and primary occupation as a planter.

Ralph was qualified as a general county road maintenance surveyor based on an entry in the Christ Church Vestry Book (page 201 of original, November to March, year not noted in book but context places it c1727, "ordered that Mr. Garrot Daniel and Mr. Ralph Shelton procession every particular person's land between Briery Swamp (from the Millstone Valley to the Dragon Swamp), and the upper end of the county, and from the main road to the Dragon Swamp, on the south side of the main road".

Birth and baptismal records on most of Ralph's children are given in Christ Church Register.

Ralph Shelton's will was dated 10 Mar 1733 in Middlesex Co., VA., and proven in 02 Apr 1734. Elizabeth Davis (daughter), his wife Mary Shelton and his son Thomas Shelton were appointed as his executors.


Following from “RALPH SHELTON, OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, VIRGINIA AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS”; An Account by his great-5-grandson, Kenyon Stevenson (deceased), Hudson, Ohio, 1953:855

Ralph Shelton married about 1707, either in Essex or Middlesex, a wife Mary, whose surname has been guessed to be Crispin. No record of the marriage or suggestion of a maiden name has been discovered. Birth of the oldest daughter, Elizabeth, about 1711, is not in the Christ Church Parish Register, where all the others are recorded. There were eleven children in all, as follows:
l. Thomas, baptized November 9, 1707, married Mary Probert Jan. 14, 1730/31 
 2. Ralph, baptized October 23, 1709, married Mary Daniel June 10, 1731 
 3. Elizabeth, born about 1711, married Wm. Davis, Oct. 29, 1728. 
 4. Crisp (throughout life called Crispin), born April 1, baptized May 17, 1713, married Letitia ____about 1734 
 5. Reuben, born Feb 1, 1714/15, baptized Apr 10, 1715; died Oct. 8, 1715 
 6. Mary, born Jan. 21, baptized February 13, 1716/17; died July 18, 1719 
 7. Catherine, born Jan. 26, baptized March 13, 1719/20, married George Blakey Dec. 31, 1743 
 8. John, born July 19, baptized August 12, 1722 
 9. Benjamin. born June 18, baptized July 12, 1724 
 10. James, born Feb. 23, baptized March 23, 1726/27 
 11. Daniel, born May 17, baptized June 22, 1729
Ralph Shelton lived only five years after the birth of his son Daniel. He died March 13 1733/34. His will, badly damaged in the old Middlesex Will Book, was dated March 10, 1733/34. Some of the provisions still legible on the torn pages are , “ My son Ralph Shelton should have my Land….” “……zabeth Davis twenty five Shillings to buy her---“, “------Ralph Shelton one cow and calf,”, “…..my son Thomas Shelton should take care of my children, and if in case my son Thomas should Die, my Desire is that my Children should be left to the -----of my other two sons, Ralph and Crispen.” “Appoint my L (oving) wife Mary Shelton and my son Thomas Shelton to (be executors of) my Last will and Testament.” The witnesses were William Buford, Thomas Clarke, Henry Buford and Abraham______.
The will was presented in Court April 2, 1734 and proved by oaths of Henry Beauford and Thomas Clark. Thomas Buford, John Jones, John Clark and Garrit Daniel appraised the estate. Inventory and appraisement were presented to the court on July 2, 1734. After this there are no later entries in the Middlesex Court Orders or other county records regarding Ralph Shelton. His widow, Mary, remarried – to a Clark, perhaps Thomas – and as Mary Clark made her will in Nottoway Parish of Amelia County on June 30, 1750. A Middlesex deed made Oct. 5, 1757 by Mary Clark and Peter Clark of County Middlesex to John Lambeth transfers 150 acres “beginning at a deep bottom between Edward Bristow and William Bristow’s line, thence along Elizabeth Smith’s line to main run of the Dragon Swamp…”
Ralph Shelton’s two older surviving sons, Ralph and Crispin, after marriage in Middlesex in the early 1730’s, apparently settled in Essex County. In May 1740 Ralph Shelton presented a certificate to the Essex Court for taking up a runaway slave Cheshire belonging to Mrs. Winifred Webb of Richmond , and in August 1742, the Essex court adjudged Sam, a negro boy belonging to Crispin Shelton to be 10 years old.
Shortly thereafter these Sheltons turned toward Amelia County, nearly 100 miles west and south, created in 1734 from Brunswick and Prince George Counties. Amelia at first also included the areas now in Prince Edward and Nottaway Counties. On July 14, 1743 Mathew Smart of Prince George County sold Crispin Shelton of South Farnham Parish, Essex County 620 acres on South Nottaway River in Amelia County. Two years later, on Sept. 20, 1745, Ralph Shelton received a royal grant of 400 acres in Amelia County, on the lower side of Snales Creek and north of Great Nottaway River.
It appears probable that with Ralph and Crispin and their families went with their mother, Mary Clark, and the four younger sons, John, Benjamin, James and Daniel. In 1745 John was 23, Benjamin 21, James 19 and Daniel 16.
Crispin sold two portions of his 620 acres in 1746 – 155 acres to Henry Bueford of Amelia and 203 acres to James Beuford of Orange County. The deeds place the land as lying “on the south side of Rocky Creek in the forks of Nottaway” and recite that “Letice his said wife” joined Crispin in the sale. Ralph Shelton and Benjamin Shelton signed both deeds as witnesses. Recalling that Henry Buford and William Buford were witnesses to the father Ralph’s will in Middlesex in 1733, it is suggested that Crispin’s wife, Lettice, may have been a Buford.
On June 20, 1749, Ralph Shelton had a second land grant – 400 acres in Lunenburg County, on the lower side of Ledbetters Creek. On Oct. 23, 1751, Ralph Shelton of the Parish of Nottaway bought 286 acres more on the lower side of Snales Creek from Samuel Jordan. Snail Creek, on the modern map, is a small stream scarcely five miles long in the southeast corner of Prince Edward County (created in 1753 from Amelia), emptying into the Great Nottaway where Prince Edward, Nottaway and Lunenburg meet. The Great Nottaway was then (1751) the boundary between Amelia and Lunenburg. This places Ralph Shelton’s 628 acre homestead in the extreme southwest corner of present Nottaway County and his land on Ledbetter Creek about 10 miles distant to the south and west.
US and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900

Name:Ralph Shelton Gender:Male Birth Place:VA Birth Year:1685 Spouse Name:Mary Crispin Marriage
Year:1706 Marriage State:VA Number Pages:1

SHELTON SLAVES

Mary Shelton Clark, widow of Ralph Shelton died 1733 Middlesex County, Virginia

On the 1748 Amelia County, Virginia, Tithables List, Crispin Shelton is listed with “The Widow Clark” in his household and she paid the tithe tax on several slaves. Mary Clark was the widow of Ralph Shelton, I, who died in 1733 in Middlesex County, Virginia. Mary Clark’s will is on file in Pittsylvania County. It is recorded in Pittsylvania County Deed and Will Book 5, page 369. The will was proven on August 29, 1771, and it was written on June 30, 1750, in Nottoway Parish, Amelia County. One of the items in her will left to her son Daniel Shelton her “negro wench Taney”.

Crispin Shelton, son of Ralph Shelton died 1733, Middlesex County, Virginia.

In August 1742, Essex County, Virginia, Court Orders recorded the Essex court adjudged Sam, “a Negro boy” belonging to Crispin Shelton, to be 10 years old. Crispin was on the first Tithables List of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, in 1767 with his son Spencer and three slaves Tom, Lucy, and Primus. Also listed was his son, Gabriel Shelton, with Abraham Payne resident in his household and slaves Zachary and Vilet. His son Lewis was listed with slave Pratt. In his will Crispin made arrangements for 44 slaves, not many when one considers that Thomas Jefferson owned 200 slaves at the time.

Ralph Shelton, II, son of Ralph Shelton died 1733 Middlesex County, Virginia

Ralph Shelton, II, died in Henry County, Virginia, in 1789.

He is listed on the 1762 Tithables List of Amelia County, Virginia, where he lived before moved to the area that became Henry County, Virginia, as follows, which shows him owning two slaves

named Adam and Phyllis. The other names are those of his sons. “Tithes” were a tax each free

white male had to pay to the Virginia government beginning on his 16th birthday and which also

had to be paid on slaves, male and female, and on Indian servants and on indentured persons by

the slave owner and the holder of the indenture papers. Ralph paid no Tithe on indenture individuals.

Ralph Shelton, Ralph Shelton, Jr., Eliphaz Shelton, James Shelton, Palitiah Shelton, Adam, Phyllis 7 Tithes
Ralph Shelton, III, son of Ralph Shelton, II, died 1789 Henry County

Ralph Shelton, III, died in Knox County, Tennessee, son of Ralph Shelton, II, died 1789 Henry

County, Virginia, son of Ralph Shelton, ! , died 1733 Middlesex County, Virginia”

Date is illegible but registered April, 1815, Ralph Shelton of Knox County executes deed for

slaves to his son, John Shelton.. (Source: research of Phillip Lane)

Benjamin Shelton, son of Ralph Shelton died 1733 Middlesex County, Virginia

Benjamin Shelton' s first appearance in the Pittsylvania Records was in 1772 when he bought land from Hugh Innes. The 1782 tax list of Pittsylvania shows Ben Shelton with a family of 7 whites and 8 slaves. Benjamin moved to Caswell County, North Carolina. Benjamin’s will is recorded in Caswell County Will Book C, pages 417

-418. His will was dated March 4, 1799. He stated that it is “my desire that my black people should have the privilege of choosing their master whom they will serve”.



Pittsylvania County Tax Lists show Daniel Shelton, the youngest son of Ralph Shbelton of Middlesex County, Virginia, with a family of 11 owning 400 acres and 9 slaves.

In his will, Daniel made this statement: My desire is for my sons to divide the negroes among themselves if they can agree and keep them in the family as my desire is for them to remain with my sons, also my desire is for sons to give my two old negros Bob and Ester the privilege of living with who they please so they live in the family as it is contrary to law of my Country to free them.



Armistead Shelton, son of Crispin Shelton, son of Ralph Shelton died 1733

September 15, 1794 Armistead Shelton son of Crispin, freed two mulatto girls named Biddy and Juda. His reason was that he desired that they be free. The document is recorded in Deed Book 10, page. 71. In 1806 John Shelton, son of Ralph Shelton of Middlesex County, freed

a slave named Adam, recorded in Pittsylvania County Deed Book 15, page 40.

Collected Material on Ralph Shelton
Posted 25 Mar 2012 by JeanMulhern08
A Collection of Material on Ralph Shelton

Ralph Shelton – beginning with a short review

He was a surveyor, appraiser and planter by occupation.
Ralph's will was dated 10 Mar 1733 and proven in 1734.
Ralph Shelton came to Virginia about 1702 with Thomas Meriwether. (EssexCourt Order Book-1702).

His death is recorded in Christ Church Parish Register, Middlesex Co VA, Will Book B, 1712-1734, p. 418-419.
Recorded in Essex County Deeds & Wills, Book No. 10, 1699-1702, p.133, is a record of Thomas Merriwether claiming land for having imported Ralph to the Colony of Virginia.

At his death, Thomas Merriwether left the land he received for the importation to Ralph Shelton.

Also –

RALPH SHELTON, OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, VIRGINIA AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS”

Following from “RALPH SHELTON, OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, VIRGINIA AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS”; An Account by his great-5-grandson, Kenyon Stevenson (deceased), Hudson, Ohio, 1953:855

Ralph Shelton married about 1707, either in Essex or Middlesex, a wife Mary, whose surname has been guessed to be Crispin. No record of the marriage or suggestion of a maiden name has been discovered. Birth of the oldest daughter, Elizabeth, about 1711, is not in the Christ Church Parish Register, where all the others are recorded. There were eleven children in all, as follows:
l. Thomas, baptized November 9, 1707, married Mary Probert Jan. 14, 1730/31 
 2. Ralph, baptized October 23, 1709, married Mary Daniel June 10, 1731 
 3. Elizabeth, born about 1711, married Wm. Davis, Oct. 29, 1728. 
 4. Crisp (throughout life called Crispin), born April 1, baptized May 17, 1713, married Letitia ____about 1734 
 5. Reuben, born Feb 1, 1714/15, baptized Apr 10, 1715; died Oct. 8, 1715 
 6. Mary, born Jan. 21, baptized February 13, 1716/17; died July 18, 1719 
 7. Catherine, born Jan. 26, baptized March 13, 1719/20, married George Blakey Dec. 31, 1743 
 8. John, born July 19, baptized August 12, 1722 
 9. Benjamin. born June 18, baptized July 12, 1724 
 10. James, born Feb. 23, baptized March 23, 1726/27 
 11. Daniel, born May 17, baptized June 22, 1729
Ralph Shelton lived only five years after the birth of his son Daniel. He died March 13 1733/34. His will, badly damaged in the old Middlesex Will Book, was dated March 10, 1733/34. Some of the provisions still legible on the torn pages are , “ My son Ralph Shelton should have my Land….” “……zabeth Davis twenty five Shillings to buy her---“, “------Ralph Shelton one cow and calf,”, “…..my son Thomas Shelton should take care of my children, and if in case my son Thomas should Die, my Desire is that my Children should be left to the -----of my other two sons, Ralph and Crispen.” “Appoint my L (oving) wife Mary Shelton and my son Thomas Shelton to (be executors of) my Last will and Testament.” The witnesses were William Buford, Thomas Clarke, Henry Buford and Abraham______.
The will was presented in Court April 2, 1734 and proved by oaths of Henry Beauford and Thomas Clark. Thomas Buford, John Jones, John Clark and Garrit Daniel appraised the estate. Inventory and appraisement were presented to the court on July 2, 1734. After this there are no later entries in the Middlesex Court Orders or other county records regarding Ralph Shelton. His widow, Mary, remarried – to a Clark, perhaps Thomas – and as Mary Clark made her will in Nottoway Parish of Amelia County on June 30, 1750. A Middlesex deed made Oct. 5, 1757 by Mary Clark and Peter Clark of County Middlesex to John Lambeth transfers 150 acres “beginning at a deep bottom between Edward Bristow and William Bristow’s line, thence along Elizabeth Smith’s line to main run of the Dragon Swamp…”
Ralph Shelton’s two older surviving sons, Ralph and Crispin, after marriage in Middlesex in the early 1730’s, apparently settled in Essex County. In May 1740 Ralph Shelton presented a certificate to the Essex Court for taking up a runaway slave Cheshire belonging to Mrs. Winifred Webb of Richmond , and in August 1742, the Essex court adjudged Sam, a negro boy belonging to Crispin Shelton to be 10 years old.
Shortly thereafter these Sheltons turned toward Amelia County, nearly 100 miles west and south, created in 1734 from Brunswick and Prince George Counties. Amelia at first also included the areas now in Prince Edward and Nottaway Counties. On July 14, 1743 Mathew Smart of Prince George County sold Crispin Shelton of South Farnham Parish, Essex County 620 acres on South Nottaway River in Amelia County. Two years later, on Sept. 20, 1745, Ralph Shelton received a royal grant of 400 acres in Amelia County, on the lower side of Snales Creek and north of Great Nottaway River.
It appears probable that with Ralph and Crispin and their families went with their mother, Mary Clark, and the four younger sons, John, Benjamin, James and Daniel. In 1745 John was 23, Benjamin 21, James 19 and Daniel 16.
Crispin sold two portions of his 620 acres in 1746 – 155 acres to Henry Bueford of Amelia and 203 acres to James Beuford of Orange County. The deeds place the land as lying “on the south side of Rocky Creek in the forks of Nottaway” and recite that “Letice his said wife” joined Crispin in the sale. Ralph Shelton and Benjamin Shelton signed both deeds as witnesses. Recalling that Henry Buford and William Buford were witnesses to the father Ralph’s will in Middlesex in 1733, it is suggested that Crispin’s wife, Lettice, may have been a Buford.
On June 20, 1749, Ralph Shelton had a second land grant – 400 acres in Lunenburg County, on the lower side of Ledbetters Creek. On Oct. 23, 1751, Ralph Shelton of the Parish of Nottaway bought 286 acres more on the lower side of Snales Creek from Samuel Jordan. Snail Creek, on the modern map, is a small stream scarcely five miles long in the southeast corner of Prince Edward County (created in 1753 from Amelia), emptying into the Great Nottaway where Prince Edward, Nottaway and Lunenburg meet. The Great Nottaway was then (1751) the boundary between Amelia and Lunenburg. This places Ralph Shelton’s 628 acre homestead in the extreme southwest corner of present Nottaway County and his land on Ledbetter Creek about 10 miles distant to the south and west.

Residence Records in the Christ Church Parish registers in Middlesex County, Virginia, mention Mary's husband, Ralph Shelton, from the baptism of their son John in November 1707 to Ralph's death on March 13, 1733. Then she spent the entire time up to 1733 in the Middlesex County area.

Her will of 1750 shows her living in Nottoway Parish in Amelia County, VA. She had remarried a man named CLARK, but this is definitely the widow of Ralph Shelton since her will lists her children by name: Ralph Shelton, Crispin Shelton, John Shelton, Benjamin Shelton, James Shelton, Elizabeth Davis, and Daniel Shelton. Two grandchildren, Reubin Shelton and Patient Caty Blakely are also mentioned, suggesting they took their deceased parent's portion of Mary's estate.

Spouse/Children Mary was the wife of Ralph Shelton (1685-1733). We know this because the Christ Church Parish records list "daughter of" or "son of" Ralph and Mary Shelton for each baptism. Moreover, Ralph's will, though badly torn with large chunks missing, has mention of his wife Mary. References to several of his children remain as well.

A marriage record between Ralph and Mary has not been located, despite several generations of researchers searching for it. The dominant thinking is that Mary's surname was Crispin, but this is speculation based on her son's name of Crispin. The U.S. and International Marriage records on ancestry.com record a marriage between Ralph Shelton and Mary Crispin in 1706 in Middlesex County, VA but it is important to note that the source of this is a collection of research notes acquired over many years by Yates Publishing. These are NOT NECESSARILY original records as family group sheets are used as sources in addition to Bible records and other notes. Therefore, the maiden name of CRISPIN remains in the family lore but is unproven. At some point, Mary married a man named CLARK, as this is her surname in her will.

All of the baptisms of Ralph's and Mary's children appear in the Christ Church register (under the name SHELTON), but no record has been found of the baptism or birth of their daughter Elizabeth. Her existence is known from a reference in Ralph's will (____abeth Davis) and from Mary's will (referring to daughter Elizabeth Davis). The parish registers show a marriage between Elizabeth Shelton and William Davis on 09 Oct 1728, several years before the wills were written, so this data is all consistent. In addition to the baptism records, the names of "my son Ralph," "my son Thomas," "son Crispin" appear in Ralph's will. From these records, the children of Ralph and Mary were the following:
· Thomas
· Ralph
· Elizabeth
· Crispen
· Reuben (died young)
· Mary (died young)
· Catherine
· John
· Benjamin
· James
· Daniel

Mary's estate was probated in 1771 in Pittsylvania County, VA.

He was a surveyor, appraiser and planter by occupation.
Ralph's will was dated 10 Mar 1733 and proven in 1734.
Ralph Shelton came to Virginia about 1702 with Thomas Meriwether. (EssexCourt Order Book-1702).
Wife was named Mary; they were married abt 1707 in Middlesex Co VA.

The children of Ralph and Mary Shelton;
l. Thomas, baptized November 9, 1707, married Mary Probert Jan. 14, 1730/31
2. Ralph, baptized October 23, 1709, married Mary Daniel June 10, 1731
3. Elizabeth, born about 1711, married Wm. Davis, Oct. 29, 1728.
4. Crispen, born April 1, baptized May 17, 1713, married Letitia
5. Reuben, born Feb 1, 1714/15, baptized Apr 10, 1715; died Oct. 8, 1715
6. Mary, born Jan. 21, baptized February 13, 1716/17; died July 18, 1719
7. Catherine, born Jan. 26, baptized March 13, 1719/20, married George Blakey Dec. 31, 1743
8. John, born July 19, baptized August 12, 1722
9. Benjamin. born June 18, baptized July 12, 1724
10. James, born Feb. 23, baptized March 23, 1726/27
11. Daniel, born abt 1729


His parents may be Peter Shelton 1664-1718 and Susannah Jackson/Jaxon. Peter would be the son of James Shelton 1632 MD-1720 VA who married mary Bathurst. James would be the son of Thomas Shelton and Hannah Wood, who lived in Virginia and Bermuda......and on, back, to Sir John Shelton [DeShelton] and Lady Anne Boleyn. John Shelton was the 21st Lord of Shelton. Sir John's wife, Anne Boleyn, was an aunt to Anne Boleyn the second wife of King Henry VIII, and Henry and Anne were parents of Elizabeth I who became the Queen of England in 1588. This line continues back and includes Ralph Shelton 1430 who married Margaret CLERE.

Christ Church Parish Register; page 54 "Peter ye sone of Peter & Susanna Shelton baptz ye 15th November 1687"

"In Middlesex County, a Peter Chilton married Susan Jaxon on March 2, 1685. This is the first notice of a man who appears in the records as Chilton, Chelton and Shelton over the next 30 years. Three of his son's births are recorded in the Christ Church Parish Register as Chilton, but his own name occurs in his 1718 will as Chilton, Chelton and Chellton. He signed his name by mark, Peter Chellton." by descendant, Kenyon Stevenson.

His death is recorded in Christ Church Parish Register, Middlesex Co VA

Will Book B, 1712-1734, p. 418-419.

"Recorded in Essex County Deeds & Wills, Book No. 10, 1699-1702, p.133, is a record of Thomas Merriwether claiming land for having imported Ralph to the Colony of Virginia." "At his death, Thomas Merriwether left the land he received for the importation to Ralph Shelton." From the research of Keynon Stevenson as shared by Hildred C. Shelton.

"Order'd that Mr Garrot Daniel, & Mr Ralph Shelton, procession...between the Briery Swamp, (from the Millstone Valley to the Dragon Swamp) and the upper End of the County, and from the main road to the Dragon Swamp, on the South Side of the main road"....

1728: Mr Garrot Daniel, & Mr Ralph Shelton..."from the new Drago[n] Bridge road on the South side the main road to the upper End of the Parish".... [this year two districts on the south side are combined. In 1729 the processioners for the same two are John Segar and James Macham.]


Prior to the Oct. 10, 1702 Middlesex Co, VA County Court Session, Ralph SHELTON was imported to North America, along with six other persons, by Thomas Merriwether (who was granted a headright for this importation): source - Essex County, VA Court Order Book 1699-1702, (Deeds and Wills Vol 10, p. 133). Ralph's surname was spelled SHELDON in this document. Probably, he was at least 18 years of age. There is no evidence that Ralph Shelton served a formal indenture as an indentured servant, since no release or other documents have been located in support of this matter.

Researcher and author, Ken Shelton, who has a copy of the will, said that Merriwether wrote in his will (Essex Co. Deed & Will Book 1707-1711, p. 185-187): ...I give unto Ralph Shelton & his heirs forever sixty five acres of land granted to me by Patent beginning to the lands of RICE JONES *see note below & John Leh__le the land formerly belonging to Capt Edward Thomas..... At the end of the document, Ralph is a WITNESS to the will as well. This means Ralph could read and write, and was educated to some extent. The clerk transcribed his signature as Ralph Shelteon even though he spelled it Shelton within the text of the will itself. Dated 27 Jan 1708/9, probated 10 Feb 1708/9. The land was near the Dragon Swamp of Essex County (later Middlesex County). What relationship there might have been is unknown, but usually this type of bequest indicated a strong relationship.

The Meriwether Society has a theory that Ralph was a Skelton and that Thomas married his sister, Susannah. They base this on the fact that everyone in Thomas's will were family named as brother, sister, nephew; except for Ralph. They think that is the reason Thomas imported Ralph. That and the fact that Thomas bequeathed to Ralph in his will 65 acres. Dr.Frank Shelton has another area to explore. In the mentioned will of Thomas he asks to sell his tobacco and to pay his debts to Messr. Micajah Perry, London merchant. Dr.Frank thinks if we knew more of Mr. Perry and his type of trade it would lead to more clues as to Ralph's parents."

This is a good theory, worth exploring, and might well explain just why Thomas Meriwether gave Ralph Shelton the 65 acre legacy in his 1708/9 will. For many people, this SHELTON research is confusing for several reasons. There was another Ralph SHELTON, a younger man than our ancestor, who was of King William County. He married Mary Pollard. The two Ralph Sheltons lived, according to Jan, on opposite sides of the Dragon Swamp and were about 15 years apart in age. This was established by a bond for 200 pounds in King William County dated 30 Sep 1703, entered into by Joseph Bickley of King and Queen County with Major John Waller, (see notes below regarding Crispen Shelton's children), King William Co., to cover two years schooling for Ralph Shelton, son of Mrs. Sarah Gissage, whom Bickley contemplated marrying soon. A good article on "the two Ralphs" can be found at Brian Eddy's helpful website (outdated URL - if you know about his new URL, please let me know). In correspondance from Katherine Snow 2/2000, she wrote that the marriage of Ralph Shelton (supposedly b. c1698, while our Ralph SHELTON was b. 1685) and Mary Pollard occurred 05 Dec 1721, which certainly would exclude Mary ?Crisp/Crispen? from being the same person as Mary Pollard. I have not researched the SHELTON/POLLARD connection, so I cannot say for certain if this is all true.

It is unknown who the parents of our Ralph Shelton were at this time. Some researchers would like to believe that Ralph was the son of Peter Shelton and his wife Susannah Jaxon/Jackson, but it appears this assumption is incorrect after all the evidence is viewed. There were men named Ralph Shelton in early England records, but no connection with proof has yet been located. Kenneth Shelton, who wrote "The Shelton Trek Across Kentucky", (LIBRARY of CONGRESS Call #CS71.S545 1987a), said on page 7 of his book that he believed Ralph Shelton was not a son to Peter Shelton. He believed that Peter was actually a CHILTON. Although Peter CHILTON (1664-1718) did live in Middlesex Co., VA, he left a will which did not name a Ralph Shelton as a son, and all of Peter Chilton's children are noted in the Christ Church Parish Register (no Ralph was listed there). Ralph Shelton, by English primogenitor law, would have been included in this will if he was the first born son and by law would have inherited Peter Chilton's 100 acres of land had he been the son as claimed by some researchers. Why would Ralph SHELTON b. 1685, be "imported" if this supposed father, Peter Shelton/Chilton, was already residing in America, as documents prove? Ralph Shelton simply was NOT a son to Peter Chilton/Shelton. The following is another comprehensive message regarding this issue. It was also posted to the Knight5@aol.com SHELTON mailing list:

"Dr. Frank H. Shelton wrote a pamphlet Sheltons in the Christ Church Parish Register-in Virginia, copyright 1985. He descends from Ralph & Mary, through their first son Thomas. Source of his information is "The Parish Register of Christ Church Parish of Middlesex Co., Va From 1653-1812" published by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Virginia, Richmond: Wm Ellis Jones, Steam Book And Job Printer - 1897. Also, Essex Co. Court Records. I quote the following.
"There are records for Peter Chelton (and descendants) in the Christ Church Parish Register from 1685 when Peter Chilton married Susan Jaxon until 1725 when Abby was born to ZebuIon & Mary Chelton. Over this period of 38 years and three generations it was always Chilton/Chelton. There was never any mixing of the Shelton and Chelton names over a period of many years in the Christ Church Parish Register. There is only one exception to this fact: unaccountably on page 54 "Peter ye sone of Peter & Susanna Shelton baptz ye 15th November 1687" does a Shelton enter into the Chilton's records and never a Chilton in the Shelton's records of Christ Church Parish.
The above Parish Register records indicate the following concerning the Peter Chilton family: Peter Chilton 1st married in 1684 Susannah Jackson and by her had William and Peter (Jr) - 1687. Peter Chilton then married 2nd Abigail and by her had Henry - 1691, Thomas and Zebulon. Peter Chilton died October 1718 and his widow Abigail Chelton married Robert Holderness a short time later - Feb 1719."......"I think that Dr. Frank Shelton provides the most compelling evdence, backed up by direct research, that Peter was not a Shelton. Also that he could not have been the father of Ralph. Regards, Wayne Shelton

By 1707, Ralph Shelton's name is found on the Christ Church Parish Register with the birth record of his first child, Thomas Shelton. After his importation, Ralph Shelton lived in Middlesex Co., VA for the remainder of his life. He was listed as a Surveyor and Appraiser, and primary occupation as a planter. Ralph was qualified as a general county road maintenance surveyor based on an entry in the Christ Church Vestry Book (page 201 of original, November to March, year not noted in book but context places it c1727, "ordered that Mr. Garrot Daniel and Mr. Ralph Shelton procession every particular person's land between Briery Swamp (from the Millstone Valley to the Dragon Swamp), and the upper end of the county, and from the main road to the Dragon Swamp, on the south side of the main road". Birth and baptismal records on most of Ralph's children are given in Christ Church Register. Ralph Shelton's will was dated 10 Mar 1733 in Middlesex Co., VA., and proven in 02 Apr 1734. Elizabeth Davis (daughter), his wife Mary Shelton and his son Thomas Shelton were appointed as his executors. Click here to view a transcribed version of the will at the USGenWeb SHELTON board.

Ralph Shelton supposedly married Mary ?CRISP/CRISPEN? (no proof has yet been found for her correct maiden name) c1706 in Middlesex Co., VA. She was reported to have been the daughter of Thomas and Mary (LONG) CRISPEN/CRISP who married 18 May 1687. I have no good source for this data, and it is NOT proven. Mary remarried after her husband's death in 1734 to William CLARK. From VA Vital Records #1 1600-1800 (Family Tree Maker CD #174), Broderbund, pages 259-260 of "Abstracts of VA Wills of Pittsylvania Co., VA 1803-1860", printed in "The Magazine of History and Biography - The William and Mary Quarterly and Tylers Quarterly", will of Mary CLOCK (sic), Parish of Nottoway, Amelia County, was dated 30 Jun 1750, probated 29 Aug 1770 (Mary had died in 1765). This document was witnessed by Crespen (sic) SHELTON, and John SHELTON. She named her "legitimate sons" Ralph Shelton, John Shelton, Crispen Shelton, Benjamin Shelton, James Shelton, and grandchildren Reuben Shelton and Patience Catesby BLOCKEY to whom she gave 1 shilling sterling. She gave her daughter Elizabeth DAVID (the name was actually DAVIS) the best of her wearing clothes, and her son Daniel Shelton and his heirs all the rest of her estate. For a more precise look at this will, click here to view information sent by Ken Shelton.

Christ Church, Middlesex Co., VA - from Harper's Magazine
THE CHILDREN:

1. Thomas, bapt. 09 Nov 1707, d. 24 Mar 1741/42 Middlesex Co., VA. (Christ Church Parish Records), m. 04 Jan 1729/30 Mary PROBERT, b. 16 Nov 1708 Middlesex Co., VA., d. aft. June 1742, the daughter of William and Hannah Unknown PROBERT (names from the Christ's Church Parish Register).

Named in his father's will .....and if my widow should marry, my son Thomas Shelton shall take care of my children, and if Thomas dies, then my two sons, Ralph Shelton and Crispin Chelton (sic) should care for them. April Miller's book "Shelton County - A Genealogy of Pittsylvania County's Largest Family" (book located at the LDS Morman Family History Library in Salt Lake City, UT.), has information on this line. She wrote that after Thomas died, his grandchildren, from four of his sons, migrated for the most part to Greenville Co., VA and then into central North Carolina. Thomas Shelton's will, found in Middlesex Co., VA, Will Book C, page 91, was probated on 07 Jun 1743. "The Sheltons Lineal Descendants from Ancient, Medieval & Modern Kings & from Fifteen Sureties for the Magna Charta" by Kathryn Morris Brown, published in Knoxville, TN 1981, page 65 gives the date of death for Mary and the marriage date as 14 Jan. 1730 in Middlesex Co., VA., and includes the birth dates for her children. This author added the child Micajah, not seen on other sources. Mary Shelton was the administratrix of Thomas Shelton, dec'd, probate record dated 07 Jun 1743.
CHILDREN: Reuben b. 06 May 1733 m. Priscilla M. MEDLEY; Josiah b. c1735 m. Elizabeth Unknown; Mary b. 21 Feb 1738, died young; Thomas b. 02 May 1740, d. 1802 Orange Co., NC, m. Catherine MUNDAY; and Micajah b. 20 Jun 1742 (reported to have moved to NC). Much more information can be found on this line in WFT Vol. 30 Tree #1350.

2. Ralph b. 23 Oct 1709 Middlesex Co., VA. (Christ Church Parish Records), d. March 1789 Henry Co., VA., m. 10 Jun 1731 Mary DANIEL, daughter of William DANIEL and Mary MOSELEY of Middlesex Co., VA.

For more on these lines, click on the underlined names.

3. Elizabeth b. 1711 Middlesex Co., VA., d. c1784 Hanover Co., VA., m. 09 Oct 1728 William DAVIS who was born 1699 (christined 1700 Christ Church, Middlesex Co. VA), d. 13 Mar 1732/33 Middlesex Co., VA., the son of John DAVIS and Catherine RAGLAND (source William Davis E-mail erich@jjt.com).

In Broderbund's CD Virginia Genealogist, Pittsylvania County Tax Records, page 326, William Davis is shown with 1 tithe in 1767. James Harmon E-mail jharmon@earthlink.net researches this line.
CHILDREN: Elizabeth m. Pettus RAGLAND; Catherine m. James RAGLAND (Pettus' brother); John Dabney b. 22 Jan 1743 m. Anne Ragland TINSLEY; Tolifero; David; Meridith; Evan; William; and Steven m. Elizabeth BOWE.

4. Crispen b. 01 Apr 1713 Middlesex Co., VA. (Christ Church Parish Records), d. 29 Oct 1787 Pittsylvania Co., VA., m. Letitia UNKNOWN c1733, and later a Mary BAUFORD.

The Bauford surname was provided by Millie, E-mail GeneSeek@aol.com, her source unknown. A marriage record is found in "Marriage Records of Pittsylvania Co., VA 1767-1805" a section of the book "The Sheltons-Lineal Descendants from Ancient, Medieval and Modern Kings and from Fifteen Sureties for the Magna Charta" by Kathryn Morris Brown (published 1981 Knoxville, TN). This record shows that Gabriel Shelton also married a Mary Beuford..surety Reddick Shelton..she signed her own consent..married by Rev. Thomas Payne. You can click here to read an entry at GenForum by Janet Hunter pertaining to this line. Interesting too, is the following E-mail sent by Jan Shelton Nixon Sept. 2000:

" I am lead to believe that Gabriel's wife Mary Buford was Mary Waller Buford. Following is correspondence from a Lewis researcher: " Miller correctly notes that Gabriel Shelton's second marriage was to Mary Buford on 29 Jun 1794. In my opinion Mary Buford was born Mary Waller. This opinion is based on the following records.
The Will of Major Waller, written 23 Jan 1793, and probated 11 Dec 1794, in Nottoway Co., VA names wife Elizabeth Waller, his daughters, Susannah Parham (who married James Parham), MARY BUFORD, Elizabeth Ellis, Christianna Bennett, Dicey Waller, and his sons John, William, Hampton, Garred, and Major Waller.
An Order Book entry for the Nottoway County Court for 7 May 1796, names the following litigants:
Susannah Parham
GABRIEL SHELTON and MARY his wife
William Ellis and Eliza his wife
Richard Bennett and Christianna his wife
John Waller
Garred Waller-Exors of Major Waller, dec'd.
VS
William Waller
Hampton Waller
Dicey Waller- Infants and orphans of Major Waller, dec'd.".

Jan continued her thoughts: It is interesting that Major John Waller (1) signed the bond for Ralph Shelton who married Mary Pollard (see above notes) and (2) is the father of one of Gabriel's wives. Coincidence?...or family connections? Also interesting is that Gabriel and Mary were married by Rev.Thomas Payne as I think Gabriel's mother Lettice was a Payne, dau. of a Thomas. The problem area here is I have 3 Thomas Paynes and trying to sort the lot." We certainly thank Jan for these tantalizing comments. More research in this area is needed though.

From the ROOTS-L mailing list for SHELTON surname: Crispin Shelton sold two portions of his 620 acres in 1746, 155 acres to Henry Bueford of Amelia and 203 acres to James Beuford of Orange County. The deeds place the land ....on the south side of Rocky Creek in the forks of Nottaway....and recite that....Letice his second wife, joined Crispin in the sale. Ralph Shelton and Benjamin Shelton signed both deeds as witnesses. Henry Buford and William Buford were witnesses to the father Ralph's will in Middlesex in 1733 (posted by Janet Hunter, June 2001)

CHILDREN: Lewis b. c1734; William b. 04 Mar 1734/35; Abraham b. c1737 m. Chloe ROBERTSON; Gabriel b. c1739 m. (1) Elizabeth SHEPHERD (line of Patty Smith 24 Mar 1762 (2) Mary Waller Buford 29 Jun 1794; Spencer b. c1743 m. Clara SHELTON; Beaverly b. c1744 m. Anne COLEMAN; Jane b. c1745 m. William TODD; Susan b. c1746 m. Griffith DICKERSON; Armistead b. c1750 m. Susannah SHELTON; Vincent b. c1751 m. Susannah ROBERTSON; and Elizabeth b. c1753 m. Moses HURT.

5. Reuben b. 01 Feb 1714/15, d. 08 Oct 1715 Middlesex Co., VA. (Christ Church Parish Records).

6. Mary b. 21 Jan 1715/16, d. 18 Jul 1719 Middlesex Co., VA. (Christ Church Parish Records).

7. Catherine b. 26 Jan 1718/19 Middlesex Co., VA. (Christ Church Parish Records), d. c1745, m. 31 Dec 1743 (bond date) George BLAKEY, b. 03 Apr 1716 Middlesex Co., VA.

In Broderbund's CD Virginia Genealogist, Middlesex County Marriage Records, page 321, the marriage bond is signed by Robert Daniel, brother of Mary Daniel who married Ralph Shelton. George married again, after his first wife's death, to Clara (Smith) DANIEL, widow of Garrett DANIEL (bond dated 28 Apr 1746). Garrett DANIEL was reportly a son to Robert and Margaret (Price) DANIEL, and a cousin to Mary (Daniel) SHELTON.
CHILD of Catherine & George BLAKEY: Patience Catesby BLAKEY.

8. John b. 19 Jul 1722 Middlesex Co., VA. (Christ Church Parish Records), d. 1804 Pittsylvania Co., VA., m. Elizabeth (some say Elizabeth LAWSON 30 Jul 1760, but this is not verified by me).

Some researchers say that John's will was written 18 Nov 1777 and proven 13 July 1778, however this would appear to be a different John SHELTON. The children attributed to him are named in the will of John Shelton 1801 in Pittsylvania Co., VA. The book "Families of James Shelton of McMinn Co., TN and His Father Roderieck Shelton of Buncombe Co., NC and Their Antecedents" by Arthur Paul Shelton Aug 1987 gives his wife's name as Susan HOARD/HOWARD, so I don't know which is correct, but the marriage date with Elizabeth may actually be for a John Shelton, Jr. Vonette Curtis E-mail alvon@apex.net says John was elected a Lieutenant in the Rev. War in Pittsylvania Co.,VA. "The Sheltons, by Clay HENSLEY and Zelois HENSLEY, privately printed, 1988, page 47 (keep in mind, many researchers refute this data): "John Shelton, b. 7-19-1722, bapt. 8-12-1722 sold his land in Amelia Co. 8-25-1774, deed signed by wife Elizabeth, and moved to Mecklenburg County where his sister Catherine Blakey lived. Wife Elizabeth died before John made his will 11-18-1777, probated 7-13-1778. He signed John Shelton, Sr., and named only his eldest son Mark and his grandson William, son of Mark, son John was not named. Mark was executor of his father's will. After the death of their parents Mark and John went on to Pittsylvania Co., VA., where their father's brothers had settled earlier. The wills of both Mark and John were made in Pittsylvania Co in 1801. After John Sr's will was prob. in July, son John bought land in Pittsylvania County 11-7-1778 and made his will 11-26-1801, probated 6-18-1804, sons Joel and Abraham and friend Vincent Shelton, executors. Wit: William, Henry and Lewis Shelton - no wife mentioned. 12 children are named, also a granddaughter Fannie, wife of Tunstal Shelton." Another descendant, Karen Wood, wrote in Nov. 1999, to the Knights5 mailing group that John moved to Pittsylvania County c1775 and died 1804. She also wrote that contrary to previous written material, John's sister Catherine Blakely had died shortly after her marriage and well before 1778. Karen wrote that there was no son John Shelton, Jr....so much work needs to be done on the line of John Shelton.

Hildred Shelton wrote the following in April 2005: (from) South Carolina Records for John Skelton and Mark Skelton from site of South Carolina Department of Archives and History - "1784 John Skelton grant in District of Ninety-Six, SC - There is a record of a land grant in the District of Ninety-Six dated 9-3-1784 to John Skelton for 200 acres of land on Chestoe Creek. This was 16 years after selling his Mecklenburg County, VA, land.
1785 Mark Skelton Administrator in District of Ninety-Six, SC - I have found a record in South Carolina dated in 1785 where Josiah Tanner was administrator for Mark Skelton and sued Paul Abney. This indicates that Mark died soon after moving to the District of Ninety-Six in South Carolina, which was six years after the date of his last Mecklenburg County, VA, deed. Since he was dead (if living, the person has a guardian or Trustee), that forecloses the argument that he went to South Carolina, then returned to Pittsylvania County, VA, and died in Pittsylvania County in 1802.
Mark's last deed in Mecklenburg County, VA, was Deed Book 5, pages 484-485, dated Sept. 1, 1779, from Mark Skelton to Edward Walton stating this deed was between Mark Skelton of the district of ninety-six, South Carolina and Edward Walton of Mecklenburg County. and is dated September 1, 1779."
CHILDREN (from the will of 1801-1804): John b. c1741 m. Elizabeth Unknown; Charles; William; Joel; Francis; Claibourne; Abraham; Jane m. William LEWIS; Mary m. Unknown POORE; Martha m. Unknown TUCKER; Charlotte; Nancy m. Unknown WHITE; Lucy m. West D. HURT; and Lettice.

9. Benjamin b. 18 Jun 1724 Middlesex Co., VA. (Christ Church Parish Records), d. (unknown), m. Mary UNKNOWN.

From a book in the Dallas Library "The Sheltons Lineal Descendants from Ancient, Medieval & Modern Kings & from Fifteen Sureties for the Magna Charta" by Kathryn Morris Brown, published in Knoxville, TN 1981, page 69 shows Benjamin's wife as Mary ________. He owned land on the head of Haw Fork of Buck Branch in Pittsylvania Co., VA. He and Mary had a son Benjamin Jr. and possibly several more children, some give the names a two others as Clever and Leonard. He reportedly received a grant for 119ac in Amelia County, located on the South Fork of the Little Nottoway River, 28 Mar 1759, but sold it on 24 Nov 1763 to his brother James Shelton described as being on Stone House Branch...witnessed by Thomas Payne, Daniel D. Shelton, and John Anderson. In 1764 he bought land on the north fork of the Nottoway Rier and on 24 May 1770 Benjamin and wife Mary sold their land and moved to Pittsylvania County, settling close by his brother Crispin Shelton. In 1782 Benjamin sold 200ac on Haw Fork of Buck Branch to his nephew Joel Shelton who was then relocating from Amelia. The 1785 tax list includes Benjamins' household with 8 family members. By 1790, Benjamin was living in the Hillsborough Dist., Caswell Co., NC.

10. James b. 23 Feb 1725/26 Middlesex Co., VA. (Christ Church Parish Records), d. c1798 Lunenburg Co., VA., m. Jane UNKNOWN.

James Shelton's will is dated 27 Feb 1796 & proved 19 Oct 1798, Inv. 10 Jan 1799. This will is recorded in Will Book 4:227 Lunenburg Co VA (inventory on p. 233). It named his wife Jane and their children: Sons: David Shelton, Benjamin Shelton, Thomas Shelton, Stephen Shelton; Daughters: Mary Harrison, Caty Mason; Grandsons: Stephen Shelton Queenberry, James Queenberry, Thomas Queenberry, Aaron Queenberry, David Queenberry, Duarch [sic] Shelton, Little Berry Shelton; Granddaughters: Polly Shelton, Winnifred Queenberry, Polly Bell, Jane Askew Shelton; Executors: Benjamin Shelton, Stephen Shelton, Thomas Shelton; Witnesses: Vincent Shelton, John George, Mary Smith. A researcher for this line is Shirley Davis through the son Thomas and his son James b. 1770. One excellent researcher, Hildred Shelton of Virginia, a Knights5 member, wrote to our group regarding this matter on March 15, 2002. She said that the James Shelton who married Philapenia, who died in Henry Co. Va, in 1784 is not from the line of Ralph Shelton (d. 1733, Middlesex County). He was not the son of Ralph Shelton (d. 1789 in Henry County), either, as SHELTON DNA tests have proven (see the ROOTS-L mailing list for SHELTON for more DNA results). Hildred also wrote: The James Shelton who married Philapenia is thought by some to be of the Hanover, Rural Plains, Currioman Bay, VA., "Red House" Louisa County, Va., line of Sheltons. Kenyon Stevenson worked on this particular family for years. However, DNA testing for Rural Plains has not matched any tests from the line of James, the son of Ralph Shelton, d. 1733 Middlesex County. James, who was born 2-23-1726, d. 1798, was in Lunenberg County and his will is on file in Lunenburg Will Book 4, p. 228. The name of his wife was Jane and his daughter Heniretta m. Young Shelton, son of Daniel Shelton, b. 5-17-1729, d. 1808/9 Pittsylvania County, Va.

11. Daniel b. 17 May 1729 Middlesex Co., VA. (Christ Church Parish Records), d. before Sept. 1809 Pittsylvania Co., VA., m. Lettice YOUNG, daughter of Michael YOUNG. (Source: Edgar M. Shelton Columbia, Missouri, E-mail eshelton@socketis.net).

On page 69-70, this family of Daniel and Lettice is shown in the book "The Sheltons Lineal Descendants from Ancient, Medieval & Modern Kings & from Fifteen Sureties for the Magna Charta" by Kathryn Morris Brown, published in Knoxville, TN 1981. Ms. Brown says he owned land in Amelia Co., VA which later became Nottaway County. He was in the militia, serving first as a captain in Pittsylvania, then promoted to Major in 1778. He was a member of the Committee of Safety. He died in 1809 Pittsylvania Co., VA. She gives a list of the children. April Miller's book, Shelton County, also lists the children and their marriages.
CHILDREN: Clara b. c1748 m. Spencer SHELTON (son of Crispen); Susannah b. c1750 m. Armistead SHELTON (also a son of Crispen); Millicent b. c1751 m. Edmund TAYLOR; Anna b. c1752 m. Unknown BAILEY; Polly b. c1755 m. Frederick SHELTON (son of Abraham); Young b. c1757 m. (1) Henrietta SHELTON (dau. of James) marriage bond dated 11 Dec 1784 in Prince Edward Co., VA & (2) Elizabeth LEWIS; Daniel b. c1758 m. (1) Elizabeth GARDNER 1785 & (2) Martha KEATS; Willis b. c1760 m. Charlotte SHELTON (dau. of John); Tunstall b. c1761 m. Fannie PAYNE; Leroy b. 1763 m. Nancy LANIER; Sally b. c1774 m. Thomas PAYNE 16 Oct 1795;.

http://heathcock.org/genealogy/ps06/ps06_149.html

Son Ralph documented

Peter Shelton of Middlesex County, Virginia, born l664 is on record as grandson of James. He wed Susan Jaxon on March 2, 1685, was on record in Middlesex County that year. His second wife was Abigail whose last name and wedding date are not at hand. The name is seen variously as Peter Chi1ton, Peter Chelton and Peter Shelton over the next 30 years. In his will, which he made in 1718, he named only 4 sons, and Ralph is not one named. Genealogists Margaret Campbell Whitaker and Z. F. Shelton both list Ralph as a son of Peter. It is assumed that the authority for this is on record. The 4 sons named in the will were Peter (then deceased), William, Thomas and Zebulon. A fifth son, Henry Chelton, reportedly also predeceased his father at age 26, all births being on record in Christ Church Parish register. Family historian, Kenyon Stevenson, great (5 times) grandson of Ralph, states that there is no evidence in the parish register nor county records to suggest or confirm that Ralph was a son of Peter. But Thomas Meriwether who married Peter's daughter, Susannah, in his last will named his heir, Ralph Shelton, as brother of his wife.

Peter Shelton by his wife Susan Jaxon Shelton reportedly had the following children:
Ralph Shelton born 1685
Peter Shelton, born November l5, l687
Susannah Shelton, born 1689

His wife Susan died in birthing daughter Susannah or soon thereafter. By his second wife, Abigail, whom Peter named in his will, he had the following children:
Henry Shelton, born l69l
Thomas Shelton, born 1693
Zebulon Shelton, born 1700
William Shelton, born about 1690

Ralph Shelton, born Middlesex County, Virginia in 1695, son of Peter Shelton and Susan Jaxon Shelton, is the progenitor of the line of which Roderick Shelton of Buncombe County, North Carolina and James Shelton of McMinn County, Tennessee.

Peter Shelton son of Peter and Susan Jaxon Shelton, born Middlesex County, Virginia November 15, 1687, wed Elizabeth Downing in May, 1708, had Peter Shelton who wed Frances Nichols July 23, 1763. This Peter, son of Peter, died December 17, 1717.

Susannah Shelton, daughter of Peter and Susan Jaxon Shelton, born Middlesex County, Virginia in 1689, wed Thomas Meriwether in about 1706. Thomas Meriwether died in 1708. They had daughter Susannah Meriwether who wed John Armistead of Hesse, Gloucester County, Virginia in 1720. Armistead died in Essex County. Susannah and Thomas Meriwether had also a son, Francis Meriwether. Francis wed Mary Bathurst and had Jane Bathurst Meriwether who married her cousin, Dr. James Shelton, grandson of William and Hannah Armistead Shelton. Thomas Meriwether listed in his will, which he made on
January 7, 1708 in Essex County, Virginia, besides the above named children, Susannah and Francis Meriwether, his heir, Ralph Shelton, whom he named as brother of his wife Susannah.

Ralph + Mary Jane Crispen. Mary (daughter of Thomas Crispen and Dorothy Mary Long) was born on 18 Mar 1685 in Christ Church, Middlesex, Virginia, USA; died on 29 Aug 1771 in , Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Margaret Evans in 1692. Margaret was born in 1672 in , , Sweden; died in 1714 in , New Castle, Delaware, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Peter + Karin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]