Lucy Davis

Lucy married John Hodnett on 9 Nov 1792 in , Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA. John (son of Ayres Brooks Hodnett and Mary DeJarnette McGehee) was born on 30 Jun 1767 in Whittles, Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA; died on 19 Nov 1807 in , Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. George Hodnett
2. Nancy Hodnett
3. Elizabeth E Hodnett was born on 9 Mar 1795 in , Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA; died on 6 Jan 1870 in Shockoe, Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA.
4. John Hodnett was born in 1796 in , , Virginia, USA; died on 20 Oct 1862 in , Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA.
5. James D Hodnett was born on 9 Aug 1798 in , Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA; died on 20 Jun 1862 in Whittles, Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA; was buried in , Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA.
6. Asa Davis Hodnett was born on 5 Jul 1802 in , Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA; died on 2 Feb 1874 in Chatham, Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA.
7. Philip Hodnett was born in 1804 in , , Virginia, USA; died in 1894 in , Caswell, North Carolina, USA.
8. Ann Elizabeth Hodnett was born in 1820; died in 1896.
9. Rebecca Frances Hodnett was born in 1832 in , , Virginia, USA; died in 1904 in , Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA.

Notes:

WILLIAM DAVIS OF PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY

On 16 Mar 1779 William Davis of Pittsylvania County bought 850 acres of land on both sides of the Bannister River and Cherrystone Creek, near Chatham in the middle of Pittsylvania County, from John Booth of Henry County, bordering land owned by Thomas Hardy Sr, George Prosize, Robert Adams, John Short, John Parks, and Robert Wooding, for 1400 pounds. This land included the “William Pigg” mill, which had been built in 1768.

The stone house that William Davis built on this land is still standing but is in bad repair; photos are on the internet.

William Davis appears in the 1779 tithable list in Pittsylvania in a large household including Benj, Garret, and Daniel Davis, and negroes Lemus, Jim, Sue, and Filly. (The tithable lists for 1780 and 1781 have not been indexed, so I haven’t searched them yet. It would be interesting to see if Daniel and Garret Davis appear in these lists. Daniel appears in the 1778 list, apparently the first of the family to locate in Pittsylvania County. At least one of William’s sons named a son Garret, supporting the supposition that Garret was a son of William. Perhaps Garret and Daniel died in the Revolutionary fighting in 1780; many Pittsylvania militiamen took part in the military action in the Carolinas.)

William Davis patented an additional 400 acres on the branches of Bannister River and Cherrystone Creek, bordering the land of Thomas Hardy and Finney. A survey for this land was done 24 Apr. 1780, and he received the patent for the land on 1 Sept. 1780.

A marriage bond was registered in Pittsylvania County on 16 Nov. 1781 for William’s daughter Sarah to marry Thomas Maide (who later spelled his name Meade); surety for the bond were Thomas Maide and Benjamin Davis (William’s eldest son).

In 1782 the yearly tithable lists were replaced by personal property tax lists. In this year William Davis is shown with two “tithables” (white men over 21, presumably William and son Benjamin), nine slaves, four horses, and 16 cattle.

The 1782 land tax shows William Davis with 700 acres, which seems puzzling in light of his purchase of 850 acres (“more or less”) in 1779 and an additional 400 acres in 1780. We know that William Davis gave land to his son-in-law George Myers (part of which was donated to the Upper Bannister Baptist Church), so perhaps this accounts for part of the discrepancy. The 1782 land tax shows George “Miers” with 200 acres. Another possibility is that the total acreage that William bought in 1779 was exaggerated in the deed (indicated by the phrase “more or less”), to match the number of acres that he had just sold in Culpeper County. But this is just speculation; further research should be done in the land records to ascertain just what happened to the two tracts of land that William Davis bought.

William Davis doesn’t appear in the personal property tax records in 1783. Perhaps this was just an omission by the recorder.

In 1784 William Davis appears in the personal property tax list with two white men over 21 (William and son Benjamin), five slaves over 16; four slaves under 16; four horses, and 15 cattle.

On 17 May 1784, William’s son Benjamin entered into a marriage bond with Daniel Bradley, who married William’s daughter Elizabeth.[10]

The 1785 personal property tax list shows William Davis with two white men over 21 (William and son Benjamin), six slaves over 16, four slaves under 16, four horses, and 17 cattle. William had one additional slave and two more cows, compared to the previous year.

On 18 Feb. 1786 (recorded on the 20th), William Davis and John Davis of Pittsylvania County sold to Holt Richardson of King William County a Negro man named Ruben. Is this the same William Davis as the miller of Cherrystone Creek? And if so, who was this John Davis? A brother sharing an inheritance? Witnesses to the deed were Samuel Parks and John Bowden, and Samuel Parks would witness an 1786 deed from William Davis to his son-in-law Daniel Bradley (see below), and serve as surety in 1787 for the marriage bond of William Davis’s daughter Susanna.

The 1786 land tax shows William Davis with 700 acres, same as in 1782. William Davis was consistently taxed for 700 acres until his death in 1791.[11] The 1786 personal property tax list shows William Davis with two white men over 21, eight slaves over 16, ten slaves under 16, four horses, and 17 cattle. William had eight more slaves than the previous year. Had he recently come into an inheritance?

On 1 Dec. 1786 William Davis sold 100 acres on the north side of the Bannister River, "being part of the same tract whereon the said William Davis now lives," to his son-in-law Daniel Bradley.[12] Witnesses to the deed were Thomas H. Wooding, Samuel Parks, and William Ming.

On 19 Feb. 1787, Samuel Parks entered into a marriage bond with William Corbin, who married William Davis’s daughter Susanna. Together with the bond was a note by William Davis, witnessed by son Benjamin and by Samuel Parks, giving permission for Susanna to marry.

The 1787 personal property tax list shows that William Davis paid on April 18, with zero men over 21 (besides William; the recordkeeping was strange this year), six slaves over 16, eight slaves under 16, three horses, and 15 cattle. William had lost four slaves, a horse, and two cows compared to the previous year. On Apr. 20 William’s son Benjamin paid the tax, showing zero men over 21 (besides Benjamin), 1 slave over 16, 1 slave under 16, and 1 horse. This accounts for the horse and two of the slaves. William’s new son-in-law William Corbin had a slave in 1787, perhaps a wedding gift from William.

The 1788 personal property tax list shows William “Davise” with one white male over 21, four slaves over 16, 1 slave 12-16, and four horses. (Starting this year, the number of cows wasn’t listed.) Benjamin “Davise” paid on the same day, with 1 white male over 21 and one slave over 16. John “Davise” paid on the same day, with one male over 21, one slave over 16, and three horses. I believe that this was the John Davis who bought 200 ares on Green Rock Creek (near William Davis) on 1 July 1788, and NOT William’s son John. This John Davis appears in Pittsylvania County as early as 1782, but didn’t own land until 1788. This John Davis had one slave until 1786, when he suddenly had four slaves and a stud horse (similar to William, who also shows a sudden influx of slaves in 1786.) John Davis had the same number of slaves (and the stud horse) in 1787, but in 1788, the year he bought the land, he was back to one slave (and no stud horse). Once again, it seems reasonable to speculate that this John was a brother of William Davis, and it was these two who sold the slave Ruben to Holt Richardson in 1786 (see above).

The 1789 personal property tax list shows that William Davis paid on April 20, with two white males over 21 (presumably William and son John), five slaves over 16, and three horses. William’s son Benjamin had paid on March 16 (with one slave and one horse), the same day as John Davis (with one slave and three horses).

On 4 June 1789 John Davis (presumably William’s son who had recently turned 21) entered a bond with William Rickett, who married William Davis’s daughter Nancy.

The 1790 personal property tax list shows that William Davis (“Cherrystone”) paid on March 15, with three white males over 21 (presumably William and sons Benjamin and John), six slaves over 16, 1 slave 12-16, and three horses. William’s son Benjamin wasn’t on the list this year, so I assume that he was one of the three men listed in William’s household. John Davis (“Cherrystone”) paid on the same day as William, with one male over 21, one slave, and two horses.

William Davis, of Pittsylvania Co., Virginia "being far advanced in life," made his will on 4 June 1790,[13] mentioning:
--son John (receives 3 head of cattle)
--son Benjamin (receives William's house and 150-acre plantation)
--son Joseph (also receives 150 acres)
--son Thomas (receives the rest of William's land, except one acre by creek adjoining William's mill)
--daughter Nancy Rickett (receives a slave; will mentions her husband William Rickett)
--daughter Peggy Davis (receives two slaves and a flock of geese)
--son-in-law Thomas Maide (cancels debt owed by Thomas)
--son-in-law William Corbin (receives a slave and a feather bed, in consideration of a debt related to William's brother's will)
--sons Joseph and Thomas (mentioned again, now receive William's mill with one adjoining acre of land)
--remainder of estate to be divided between youngest children Joseph, Thomas, and Lucy.
--son Benjamin instructed to rebuild the mill, keeping possession of the mill and slaves for three years and then distributing them according to the will's provisions
--single daughters to be provided for as long as they remain single
--if either son Joseph or Thomas dies before arriving unmarried at "lawful age," their share of the mill to go to the other brother
--son-in-law George Mires to receive nothing more than what he now has in his possession
--son-in-law Daniel Bradley to receive nothing more than what he now has in his possession – the land he lives on.
--executors instructed to pay to Daniel Bradley the debt arising from William's executorship of his brother's will
--William's friend John Parks and William's son Benjamin appointed executors
--signed (with mark) June 4, 1790, and proved June 20, 1791
--witnessed by William Miers, Jacob Miers, George Miers, Jr.

The mark on William’s will has been described as“a thick-ish vertical bar (i.e., not just a thin vertical line). Some of the clerks were good about trying to copy marks closely. William’s is pretty distinctive, which usually would indicate he was not one of those who could write in his younger days but had to sign by mark when he got elderly or sick.”[14] (I am inclined to question whether the Pittsylvania County clerk was good about copying marks closely, since the clerk during this time period routinely omitted the names of witnesses to deeds. In addition, the “thick-ish vertical bar” could have been a scratched-out remnant of another mark. The researcher whom I quoted thinks this mark is significant, disproving the possibility that William Davis of Pittsylvania was the same man who sold 850 acres of land in Culpeper County in 1768. I disagree with her assessment, but others may want to draw their own conclusions.)

William's reference to his brother's will correspond to a legal action brought by Daniel Bradley against his father-in-law, which was dismissed in May 1790. The case arose against William as “executor” of the estate of his brother Noire Davis.[15] The name Noire Davis never appears in the land or tax or probate records of Pittsylvania County, so it seems clear that Noire lived elsewhere.

William Davis’s will was probated on 20 June 1791, indicating that he died sometime between March (the previous court session) and June 1791.

Children of William Davis (birth order is educated guesswork):

1. Mary, married George Miers or Myers. It appears that George Myers lived in Culpeper County from 1758 through 1770, according to a researcher who who states that the earliest record found for him in Pittsylvania County was in 1779.

George Miers is listed with 200 acres in the 1782 Pittsylvania land tax. George Miers is listed in the 1782 Virginia census with 9 whites and one black in his household.

George Miers appears in the 1785 Pittsylvania County tax list (on the same page as his father-in-law William Davis and his brother-in-law Thomas Meade) with one adult slave, two horses, and 11 cattle. I didn't find him in 1786 or 1787, but he appears in the 1788 tax list with 2 white males over 16, 1 adult slave, and two horses. (For this and most later years, the tax list doesn't show the number of cattle.)

In the 1789 tax list George "Myers" now has 4 white males over 16, 1 adult slave, and two horses. This corresponds to the three witnesses to William Davis's 1790 will being William Miers, Jacob Miers, George Miers, Jr. the three eldest sons of George. I didn't find George in the 1790 or 1791 lists, and I haven't checked later years.

2. Sarah, born about 1753,[19] married Thomas Maid (or Mead[20]), with the marriage bond dated 16 Nov. 1781 at Pittsylvania Co., Va.[21] Benjamin Davis was listed as surety on the marriage bond. If Sarah’s age was correctly stated in her 1843 widow’s pension application, she was close to 30 years old at the time of her marriage.

Thomas Meade was born 1 Apr. 1754 at Frederick County, Virginia. Thomas Maid/Mead enlisted in the Virginia Line from Pittsylvania County in February 1776; he served in Virginia and North Carolina regiments for the next six years, becoming a "forage master" in charge of obtaining supplies for the army. He was in the battles of Briar Creek (1779) and Guilford Courthouse (1781).[22] Thomas appears in the Pittsylvania County personal tax lists (listed as "Made," "Meade," and "Mead") from 1782 through 1786, after which he disappears from Pittsylvania County.

Thomas Mead appears in the Montgomery County personal tax lists from 1787 through 1789. He disappears from Montgomery County starting in 1790 -- the year that Wythe County was formed from Montgomery County. Thomas Mead appears on the first extant Wythe County personal tax list in 1793, and appears every year thereafter (except 1796) through 1814.

In 1816 Thomas Mead was one of the early settlers of Pike County, Indiana, where he was elected a Justice of the Peace in 1818.[23] He died 14 Jan. 1834 and is buried in the Old Town Cemetery in Petersburg, Pike County, Indiana. On 28 Jan. 1834 William "I." [should read "T."] Wright (Thomas's younger half-brother, per William's affidavit supporting Thomas's pension application) was appointed administrator of Thomas's estate.[24]

Sarah (Davis) Mead was still alive in 1844; all of her children in Pike County had predeceased her.[25] It is claimed that she was buried in the same cemetery as her husband, in an unmarked grave.[26]

3. Benjamin, born before 1757, a Revolutionary soldier, [27]married Lydia Meador (presumably a second marriage) 31 Jan. 1800. Lydia's father Joab Meador made his will on 25 Feb. 1815, naming his "friends" Benjamin Davis and Thomas Davis (together with two others) as executors.[28] Benjamin and Lydia had a daughter Nancy who married Samuel Thompson in 1822 in Pittsylvania County[29]; and their daughter Sarah married her first cousin Jamison Corbin.

4. Daniel, perhaps son of William, appears on the 1778 tithable list; living with William Davis in 1779 tithable list.

5. Garret, presumably son of William, living with William Davis in 1779 tax list. William's youngest sons Joseph and Thomas both named sons Garrett, supporting the supposition that Garret was son of William.

6. Elizabeth (Bettie), married Daniel Bradley (marriage bond 17 May 1784); her brother Benjamin was surety.[30] It appears that Daniel Bradley was born in Cumberland County, son of Isham Bradley.[31] Daniel Bradley was born about 1757, and moved from Cumberland County to Pittsylvania County in 1783, per his 1832 revolutionary pension application.[32]

"Bradley, Daniel, of Pittsylvania enlisted from Cumberland July 1, 1780 in the First Virginia for eighteen months. He served under Captain White and was enlisted by Ensign Belew. He was in the battles of Guilford Courthouse and Eutah, the siege of Ninety-Six and the capturing of Scotch Lake at the blockhouse in Camden and the forts at Friday's, Thompson's and Augusta. ...Daniel was wounded in one of these engagements and was ever afterwards a cripple."[33]

On 1 Dec. 1786 Daniel Bradley received a gift of 100 acres of land on the north side of the Bannister River by his father-in-law William Davis. Daniel Bradley appears in the 1786 and 1787 Pittsylvania County personal tax lists (on the same page as William Davis), with one horse, two cows, and one slave under 16. In 1788 and 1789 Daniel Bradley appears with two horses and no slaves.

Daniel doesn't appear in the 1790 tax lists; perhaps his absence was related to his lawsuit against his father-in-law and neighbor William Davis. (See above.) The lawsuit was dismissed on 3 May 1790. Daniel Bradley reappears in 1791, listed next to his deceased father-in-law.

Daniel Bradley made his will 20 Aug. 1831 and it was probated 16 Apr. 1838. The will mentioned son Isham and "my daughters." The executors were his sons-in-law Reuben Hall and William Chaney. Witnesses were Thomas Wooding, Thomas Davis, Jr., and Lydia Davis.[34]

7. Nancy, married William Ricketts 4 June 1789. Nancy was his second wife; he had four children by his first wife Barsheba Nelson. William and Nancy Ricketts had children Reuben, Nancy, Nathaniel, and Thomas.[36]

8. John, apparently born around 1768, if he was indeed the extra adult male in William’s household per the 1789 personal property tax list. John was mentioned first in his father's will, receiving three cows and no land.

Some researchers have assumed that John was the same as the John Davis who married Nancy Hodnett 26 Sep. 1803 in Pittsylvania County. This is false, as the John Davis who married Nancy Hodnett was clearly identified as “Jr.” – presumably the son of John Davis who lived near William Davis and latter on Pigg River.

9. Susanna, married William Corbin 19 Feb 1787; she was under age at the time of her marriage (her father William gave consent). William Corbin appears in the Pittsylvania County personal tax lists in 1788 and 1789, but I didn't find him in 1790 or 1791. William died before July 1801, when his father Ambrose Corbin was appointed guardian of William's children Jamison, Thompson, and Mary Corbin.[37] Jamison Corbin married his first cousin Sarah Davis, daughter of Benjamin.

Susanna Davis, widow of William Corbin, married (2) William Nelson, whose sister Barsheba was the first wife of William Ricketts, husband of Susanna Davis's sister Nancy.[38]

Ambrose Corbin, son of Rawley Corbin, was born abt. 1723 in Spotsylvania County. He lived in Culpeper County as a child (where his father died in 1773), married Jane Crawford, and died 1807/8 Pittsylvania County, per http://dgmweb.net/FGS/Corb/CorbinAmbrose-JaneCrawford.html
His children included:
--William, b. 1759-64; m. Susanna Davis 19 Feb. 1787 Pittsylvania Co.
--Randolph, b. c. 1770. His Pittsylvania will (1 Sep. 1822) mentions brothers David and Thomas, Thomas's daughter Louisa, nieces Paulina and Sally Myers, and Benjamin Myers' sons Hartwell, William, and Christopher.
--Nancy Ann, b. c. 1773; m. William Myers (son of George Myers and Mary Davis) 14 Apr. 1791 at Pittsylvania County.
--Elizabeth "Betsy," perhaps daughter of a second wife, b. 1786, m. Benjamin Myers (son of George Myers and Mary Davis) 2 Nov. 1808 at Pittsylvania County. Benjamin Myers in Pittsylvania County 1820 (next to George) and 1830; Elizabeth Myers in Pittsylvania County 1840; details at http://dgmweb.net/FGS/M/MyersBenjamin-ElizabethCorbin.html

10. Peggy (Margaret), m. Moses Cheney 15 Aug 1791. "Moses Chaney, the son of Sarah and Jacob Chaney (Chapter I), settled two miles southeast of Laurel Grove, Virginia, on the place now owned by Witcher Slayton. Moses married Margaret Davis, and to this union were born six children. Their names were as follows: William, Singleton, Bird, Moses, Betty and Sallie. Margaret died and after her death Moses married Sallie Polly, a widow, whose name was Haley. To this second union were born two children, Jackson and Eleandor, Moses was a farmer by occupation."[39]

11. Joseph, b. about 1771 (underage in 1790 per father’s will, he first appears in the Pittsylvania personal tax lists in 1793), m. Lucy McGehee Hodnett 19 Mar. 1793 Pittsylvania Co., Va., d. 1 Oct. 1850 at Halifax Co., Va. It appears that several children of Joseph and his brother Thomas moved to Tennessee.[40]

12. Thomas, b. about 1773 (underage in 1790 per father’s will, he first appears in the personal tax lists in 1794), m. (1) Jane Hodnett 13 Jan. 1794 Pittslyvania Co., Va.; m. (2) Sarah Meador 8 July 1797 Pittsylvania Co., Va. Thomas was a prosperous miller and landowner in Pittsylvania County. Children by second wife Sarah Meador: --Garrett B.; m. Anna Thompson 1 Oct. 1822 Pittsylvania Co.
--William, b. 13 Apr. 1800; m. Carmelia Craft 24 Oct. 1824 Pittsylvania Co.
--Mary Taylor, b. 1803, m. Robertson Shelton 3 May 1819 Pittsylvania Co.[41] ---Thomas C., b. 1805, m. Elizabeth Sheppard 22 Nov 1824 Pittsylvania Co.

13. Lucy, married John Hodnett 9 Nov 1792; apparently m. (2) Jessee Woodson 1809.[42]

[1] See http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vapittsy/Davisgen.html
[2] Culpeper County Minute Book 1763-1764, p. 370, in Ruth and Sam Sparacio, Virginia County Court Records, Culpeper County , Virginia Minute Book 1763-1764 (Antient Press, 1998), p. 65, cited in an e-mail from Joan Horsley, 5 Mar. 2012.
[3] Pittsylvania County Deed Book 5, pp. 145-47.
[4]For photos of the house see http://rdricketts.com/blog/2009/08/06/my-4th-great-grandfathers-rock-house-circa-1779-needs-work/
[5] Pittsylvania County Land Surveys, vol. 1, p. 337; the general shape of the tract is diagrammed on the page.
[6] Copy of the marriage bond, from the Pittsylvania Courthouse, sent to me by Sarah E. Mitchell.
[7] Images of the personal property tax lists are available at the subscription website www.binnsgenealogy.com
[8] See http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vapittsy/1782LandTaxes.htm
[9] Pittsylvania Deed Book 17, p. 477, 10 Mar. 1812 (recorded 16 Mar. 1812): George Myers to Moses Hutchings and George Giles, all of Pittsylvania County, “whereas William Davis, deceased, did in his livetime give his bond to the members of the Baptist church (known & called by the name of upper Bannister)” for “one and an half acres of land whenever they might call for the same, where the present meeting house now stands, and the right of said land being in George Myers, and he wishing to comply with said bond,” the church appointed Hutchings and Giles trustees to receive the land (paying one dollar), on the waters of the Bannister River, adjoining Leftwich. Signed: George (x) Myers (his mark). Witnesses: Will Turnstall, Jesse Leftwich, William Hutchings.
Pittsylvania Deed Book 18, pp. 501-502: 24 Nov. 1813 (recorded 18 July 1814): George Myers and wife Mary to William Turnstall, all of Pittsylvania County, 33 acres on Cherrystone Creek, being part of the tract where Myers now lives, adjoining Turnstall (formerly Hardy), and up the sill house branch to Pigg Road, and then along Pigg Road. Signed: George (x) Myers (his mark), Mary Myers. Witnesses: William Walton, John Myers, Benjamin Myers, Isham Myers.
[10] Copy of the marriage bond, from the Pittsylvania Courthouse, sent to me by Sarah E. Mitchell.
[11] Thanks to Joan Horsley for sharing William Davis’s land tax records.
[12] Pittsylvania County Deed Book 7, pp. 719-720.
[13]http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vapittsy/Davisgen.html, citing Pittsylvania Co. Deed & Will Book 11, p. 216
[14]E-mail from Joan Horsley, 14 Mar. 2012.
[15]Pittsylvania County Court Order Book 3, p. 127. The record clearly shows the unusual name “Noire.”
[16]per http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/GERMANNA_COLONIES/1997-07/0867753874 .
[17]per http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vapittsy/1782LandTaxes.htm
[18] per http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vapittsy/census.htm
[19]Per her 1843 widow's pension application which gave her age as 90; the following year her age was given as 91.
[20]He appears to have used “Maid” early in life and “Mead(e) later in life. His 1833 pension application pointedly gives both spellingsrepeatedly.
[21]Per copy of marriage license in Thomas and Sarah Mead’s pension file.
[22] Per 1833 pension application; scanned images of the entire file are available at ancestry.com; I personally transcribed the old handwriting. The published version of Thomas's affidavit on pp. 317-18 of the History of Pike and Dubois Counties, Indiana is abridged and badly garbled.
[23] History of Pike and DuBois County, Indiana, p. 251, p. 289; at http://www.archive.org/details/historyofpikedub00good
[24] Pike County, Indiana Will Abstracts 1817-1895, p. 13. A local librarian's visit to the courthouse disclosed the fact that all documents related to Thomas Mead's estate were missing at the time the estate files were microfilmed.
[25] per widow's pension application; the only witness available to support her affidavit was her daughter-in-law Polly.
[26] per Pike County History Bicentennial Year 1776-1976, by Ruth McClellan, p. 163, which misidentifies her as "Lucy."
[27]per http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vapittsy/Davisgen.html
[28]per Abstracts of Pittsylvania County, Virginia Wills, 1767-1820, p. 214. For Joab Meador's family, see http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=monkeys&id=I14768 and duplicate http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=crystalinda22&id=I121128; see also http://genforum.genealogy.com/meador/messages/495.html with a list of researchers.
[29] per http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/t/o/n/Anna-Toner/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0031.html
[30] Per http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/Hodnettgen.html
[31] Per http://www.hallgenealogy.com/ghtout/gp1272.htm
[32]Pension application of Daniel Bradley, http://revwarapps.org/s6766.pdf
[33] per http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mebarbour77&id=I04007 , citing page 160 of Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War by McAllister.
[34] per http://www.hallgenealogy.com/ghtout/np64.htm, citing Wills of Pittsylvania Co., VA 1820-1845 by Mike K. Williams.
[35] Per http://nelson-dna-project.tripod.com/docs/Decendants_of_Ambrose_Nelson_editted.pdf
[36]Per http://www.geocities.ws/athens/forum/1992/descend.html .
[37] per http://dgmweb.net/FGS/Corb/CorbinAmbrose-JaneCrawford.html Son Jamison married Sarah Davis 8 Oct. 1817 at Pittsylvania County; she was the daughter of Benjamin Davis (see above).
[38] See http://nelson-dna-project.tripod.com/docs/Decendants_of_Ambrose_Nelson_editted.pdf
[39] See http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/h/a/Richard-Franklin-Chaney/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0231.html
[40] http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.davis/13865/mb.ashx
[41] Per The Families of James Shelton of McMinn County, Tennessee and His Father Roderick Shelton of Buncombe County, North Carolina and Their Antecedents by Arthur Paul Shelton (August 1987), Chapter 7, online at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnmcmin2/SheltonCVIIP298.htm
[42]See this Hodnett page (with various Davis connections), but there seems to be confusion about whether mother or daughter married Jessee Woodson: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=AHN&db=eleanor&id=I07766 and see also (better site?) http://www.hallgenealogy.com/ghtout/np64.htm

Disputed Origin and Wife

There are various internet claims that William Davis was either the husband or the son of Elizabeth Shelton. These claims are groundless, without any evidence to support them. Elizabeth Shelton (who definitely married a man named William Davis) may have been the Elizabeth Davis of Culpeper County who was granted letters of administration for the estate of her deceased husband William on 21 July 1763.[1]

It has been claimed that William Davis of Pittsylvania County married Susanna Wills (as his second wife) in 1772 in Halifax County, but that was a different William Davis, and court records in Halifax County show that this other William Davis was the guardian of Susanna’s son by her first husband for several years into the 1780s. Personal property tax records show two very different William Davises living in Halifax County around this time.

William Davis of Pittsylvania County is sometimes confused with a different William Davis of Lunenburg and Mecklenberg Counties, who married Jane Hopkins and left a will in 1801 -- this is clearly a different family.[2]

"Mr. William Chuck Davis [d. 1962, grandson of William, who was son of Thomas, youngest son of William who died 1791] said three Davis brothers came from Wales. One settled in Lunenburg County, Virginia and two from Mecklenburg, and from them three other brothers came to Pittsylvania County and settled. Two of them were our William, his brother, Noire and Thomas. Chuck believes our William and brothers were children of John Davis of Charlotte Court House."[3]

Chuck Davis was unaware that Noire Davis never lived in Pittsylvania County, but there was a John Davis in Pittsylvania County, living near William, with children intermarrying with the same families as William’s children, who could have been William’s brother. In addition, the claim that William had a brother Thomas leads to the question: Which one? There were two early Thomas Davises in Pittsylvania County: Thomas Davis the miller, revolutionary soldier, tavern-keeper, and resident of Stinking Creek; and Thomas Davis (who died in 1809) identified as “taylor” in the tax records.

It seems likely that William Davis, who first shows up in Pittsylvania County in March 1779 when he bought a mill and 850 acres of land, was the same as the William Davis who with wife Sarah sold 850 acres of land in Culpeper County three months before, in December 1778. Supporting this supposition is the fact that William’s eldest daughter Mary was the husband of George Myers, originally of Culpeper County, who first appears in Pittsylvania County in 1779, together with his neighbor William Davis. The year after William Davis appeared in Pittsylvania County, his son Benjamin joined a militia regiment made up primarily of Culpeper men.

William of Pittsylvania’s daughter Sarah had a son with the unusual given name of Graves. Speculation for further research: Several land records in Spotslyvania and Culpeper Counties show a connection between William Davis of Culpeper and a Graves family, leading to the supposition that William's wife Sarah was a daughter of John Graves, Jr. (died after 1772) of Spotsylvania County. There is one bit of contradictory evidence for this: William of Culpeper is reported to have signed various deeds with a rather common mark -- an "I" with a cross-hatch. However, William Davis of Pittsylvania is reported to have signed his will with a different mark -- a thick vertical bar.

The available evidence indicates that William's eldest daughter Mary married George Myers of Culpeper County around 1766, suggesting a birth year for Mary (and marriage year for William) in the late 1740s. George and Mary Myers' three eldest sons were witnesses to William Davis's will in 1790. George Myers first appears in the Pittsylvania County in 1779[4], the same year as his father-in-law and neighbor William Davis.

William Davis of Culpeper County
It appears that William Davis, who first appears in the Pittsylvania County records with a March 1779 purchase of 850 acres, is the same as the William Davis whose final appearance in Culpeper County was three months earlier, when he SOLD 850 acres in December 1778. This Culpeper County land was bought in 1761 as follows:

"17 August 1761 - DEED: Sarah Minor, widow and relict of John Minor, Gentleman, late of Spotsylvania County, Decd., and John Minor, acting executor of said Minor, Decd., to William Davis, planter, of Spotsylvania County, for £150, 850 acres in Culpeper County on both sides of North Rush River, being land purchased by John Minor, Decd., from Francis and John Strother, and devised by said Minor, Decd., to his son William, who has since died underage and unmarried... /s/ Sarah Minor, John Minor. Wit: John Waller (Clerk), Wm Davenport, Jno Arnold, Thomas Minor, J. Lewis, Thos Minor [sic], Francis Meriwether, James Graves."[5]

However, at least one researcher believes that this William Davis who disappeared from Culpeper County in 1779 is the same as the William Davis who settled in Garrand County, Kentucky before dying in Fayette County, Kentucky.[6] Another researcher suggests that this William Davis (d. 1823) was the son of Benjamin Davis (d. 1763) of King William, Spottsylvania, and Culpeper Counties. According to this theory, the John Davis who settled in Pittsylvania near William Davis (d. 1791) was a son of this Benjamin Davis.[7]

William Davis of Pittsylvania County
William Davis (d. 1791) first appeared in Pittsylvania County in 1779. There were two other William Davises who lived earlier in Pittsylvania County, and there were also two early William Davises in neighboring Halifax County. These various William Davises often get confused with each other.[8]

On 16 Mar. 1779 William Davis of Pittsylvania County bought 850 acres of land on both sides of the Bannister River and Cherrystone Creek, near Chatham in the middle of Pittsylvania County, from John Booth of Henry County, bordering land owned by Thomas Hardy, Sr., George Prosize, Robert Adams, John Short, John Parks, and Robert Wooding, for 1400 pounds.[9] This land included the “William Pigg” mill, which had been built in 1768.

The stone house that William Davis built on this land is still standing but is in bad repair; photos are on the internet.[10]

William Davis appears in the 1779 tithable list in Pittsylvania in a large household including Benj, Garret, and Daniel Davis, and negroes Lemus, Jim, Sue, and Filly. (Daniel appears in the 1778 list, apparently the first of the family to locate in Pittsylvania County. At least one of William’s sons named a son Garret, supporting the supposition that Garret was a son of William. Perhaps Garret and Daniel died in the Revolutionary fighting in 1780; many Pittsylvania militiamen took part in the military campaign in the Carolinas.)

William Davis patented an additional 400 acres on the branches of Bannister River and Cherrystone Creek, bordering the land of Thomas Hardy and Finney. A survey for this land was done 24 Apr. 1780[11], and he received the patent for the land on 1 Sept. 1780. (Another William Davis received land elsewhere in Pittslyvania County on the same day; this day appears to have been a busy one for clearing out a backlog of patent grants.)

A marriage bond was registered in Pittsylvania County on 16 Nov. 1781 for William’s daughter Sarah to marry Thomas Maide (who later spelled his name Meade); surety for the bond were Thomas Maide and Benjamin Davis (William’s eldest son).[12]

In 1782 the yearly tithable lists were replaced by personal property tax lists. In this year William Davis is shown with two “tithables” (white men over 21, presumably William and son Benjamin), nine slaves, four horses, and 16 cattle.[13]

The 1782 land tax shows William Davis with 700 acres,[14] which seems puzzling in light of his purchase of 850 acres (“more or less”) in 1779 and an additional 400 acres in 1780. William Davis gave land to his son-in-law George Myers (part of which was donated to the Upper Bannister Baptist Church),[15] so presumably this accounts for part of the discrepancy, as the 1782 land tax shows George “Miers” with 200 acres. Another possibility is that the total acreage that William bought in 1779 was exaggerated in the deed (indicated by the phrase “more or less”), to match the number of acres that he had just sold in Culpeper County. But this is just speculation; further research should be done in the land records to ascertain just what happened to the two tracts of land that William Davis bought.

William Davis doesn’t appear in the personal property tax records in 1783. Perhaps this was just an omission by the recorder.

In 1784 William Davis appears in the personal property tax list with two white men over 21 (William and son Benjamin), five slaves over 16; four slaves under 16; four horses, and 15 cattle.

On 17 May 1784, William’s son Benjamin entered into a marriage bond with Daniel Bradley, who married William’s daughter Elizabeth.[16]

The 1785 personal property tax list shows William Davis with two white men over 21 (William and son Benjamin), six slaves over 16, four slaves under 16, four horses, and 17 cattle. William had one additional slave and two more cows, compared to the previous year.

On 18 Feb. 1786 (recorded on the 20th), William Davis and John Davis of Pittsylvania County sold to Holt Richardson of King William County a Negro man named Ruben. Is this the same William Davis as the miller of Cherrystone Creek? And if so, who was this John Davis? A brother sharing an inheritance? Witnesses to the deed were Samuel Parks and John Bowden, and Samuel Parks would witness an 1786 deed from William Davis to his son-in-law Daniel Bradley (see below), and serve as surety in 1787 for the marriage bond of William Davis’s daughter Susanna.

The 1786 land tax shows William Davis with 700 acres, same as in 1782. William Davis was consistently taxed for 700 acres until his death in 1791.[17] The 1786 personal property tax list shows William Davis with two white men over 21, eight slaves over 16, ten slaves under 16, four horses, and 17 cattle. William had eight more slaves than the previous year. Had he recently come into an inheritance?

On 1 Dec. 1786 William Davis sold 100 acres on the north side of the Bannister River, "being part of the same tract whereon the said William Davis now lives," to his son-in-law Daniel Bradley.[12][18] Witnesses to the deed were Thomas H. Wooding, Samuel Parks, and William Ming.

On 19 Feb. 1787, Samuel Parks entered into a marriage bond with William Corbin, who married William Davis’s daughter Susanna. Together with the bond was a note by William Davis, witnessed by son Benjamin and by Samuel Parks, giving permission for Susanna to marry.

The 1787 personal property tax list shows that William Davis paid on April 18, with zero men over 21 (aside from William; the recordkeeping was strange this year), six slaves over 16, eight slaves under 16, three horses, and 15 cattle. William had lost four slaves, a horse, and two cows compared to the previous year. On Apr. 20 William’s son Benjamin paid his tax, showing zero men over 21 (besides Benjamin), 1 slave over 16, 1 slave under 16, and 1 horse. This accounts for the horse and two of the slaves. William’s new son-in-law William Corbin had a slave in 1787, perhaps a wedding gift from William.

The 1788 personal property tax list shows William “Davise” with one white male over 21, four slaves over 16, 1 slave 12-16, and four horses. (Starting this year, the number of cows wasn’t listed.) Benjamin “Davise” paid on the same day, with 1 white male over 21 and one slave over 16. John “Davise” paid on the same day, with one male over 21, one slave over 16, and three horses. This was presumably the John Davis who bought 200 ares on Green Rock Creek (near William Davis) on 1 July 1788, and NOT William’s son John. This John Davis appears in Pittsylvania County as early as 1782, but apparently didn’t own land until 1788. This John Davis had one slave until 1786, when he suddenly had four slaves and a stud horse (similar to William, who also shows a sudden influx of slaves in 1786.) John Davis had the same number of slaves (and the stud horse) in 1787, but in 1788, the year he bought the land, he was back to one slave (and no stud horse). Once again, it seems reasonable to speculate that this John was a brother of William Davis, and that it was these two who sold the slave Ruben to Holt Richardson in 1786 (see above).

The 1789 personal property tax list shows that William Davis paid on April 20, with two white males over 21 (presumably William and middle son John), five slaves over 16, and three horses. William’s son Benjamin had paid on March 16 (with one slave and one horse), the same day as John Davis (with one slave and three horses).

On 4 June 1789 John Davis (presumably William’s son who had recently turned 21) entered a marriage bond with William Rickett, who married William Davis’s daughter Nancy.

The 1790 personal property tax list shows that William Davis (“Cherrystone”) paid on March 15, with three white males over 21 (presumably William and sons Benjamin and John), six slaves over 16, 1 slave 12-16, and three horses. William’s son Benjamin wasn’t on the list this year, so I assume that he was one of the three men listed in William’s household. John Davis (“Cherrystone”) paid on the same day as William, with one male over 21, one slave, and two horses.

William Davis, of Pittsylvania Co., Virginia "being far advanced in life," made his will on 4 June 1790,[19] mentioning:
--son John (receives 3 head of cattle)
--son Benjamin (receives William's house and 150-acre plantation)
--son Joseph (also receives 150 acres)
--son Thomas (receives the rest of William's land, except one acre by the creek adjoining William's mill)
--daughter Nancy Rickett (receives a slave; the will mentions her husband William Rickett)
--daughter Peggy Davis (receives two slaves and a flock of geese)
--son-in-law Thomas Maide (the will cancels a debt owed by Thomas)
--son-in-law William Corbin (receives a slave and a feather bed, in consideration of a debt related to William's brother's will)
--sons Joseph and Thomas (mentioned again, now they receive William's mill with one adjoining acre of land)
--remainder of estate to be divided between youngest children Joseph, Thomas, and Lucy.
--son Benjamin instructed to rebuild the mill, keeping possession of the mill and slaves for three years and then distributing them according to the will's provisions
--single daughters to be provided for as long as they remain single
--if either son Joseph or Thomas dies before arriving unmarried at "lawful age," their share of the mill to go to the other brother
--son-in-law George Mires to receive nothing more than what he now has in his possession.
--son-in-law Daniel Bradley to receive nothing more than what he now has in his possession – the land he lives on.
--executors instructed to pay to Daniel Bradley the debt arising from William's executorship of his brother's will.
--William's friend John Parks and William's son Benjamin appointed executors.
--signed (with mark) June 4, 1790, and proved June 20, 1791.
--witnessed by William Miers, Jacob Miers, George Miers, Jr.

William's reference to his brother's will correspond to a legal action brought by Daniel Bradley against his father-in-law, which was dismissed in May 1790. The case arose against William as “executor” of the estate of his brother Noire Davis.[20] The name Noire Davis never appears in the land or tax or probate records of Pittsylvania County, so it seems clear that Noire lived elsewhere.

William Davis’s will was probated on 20 June 1791, indicating that he died sometime between March (the previous court session) and June 1791.

Children of William Davis (birth order is educated guesswork):

1. Mary, married George Miers or Myers. It appears that George Myers lived in Culpeper County from 1758 through 1770, according to a researcher who who states that the earliest record found for him in Pittsylvania County was in 1779.[21]

George Miers is listed with 200 acres in the 1782 Pittsylvania land tax.[22] George Miers is listed in the 1782 Virginia census with 9 whites and one black in his household.[23]

George Miers appears in the 1785 Pittsylvania County tax list (on the same page as his father-in-law William Davis and his brother-in-law Thomas Meade) with one adult slave, two horses, and 11 cattle. He appears in the 1788 tax list with 2 white males over 16, 1 adult slave, and two horses. (For this and most later years, the tax list doesn't show the number of cattle.)

In the 1789 tax list George "Myers" now has 4 white males over 16, 1 adult slave, and two horses. This corresponds to the three witnesses to William Davis's 1790 will being William Miers, Jacob Miers, George Miers, Jr. the three eldest sons of George. (The tax records for later years for George haven't been checked.)

2. Sarah, born about 1753,[24] married Thomas Maid (or Mead[25]), with the marriage bond dated 16 Nov. 1781 at Pittsylvania Co., Va.[26] Benjamin Davis was listed as surety on the marriage bond. If Sarah’s age was correctly stated in her 1843 widow’s pension application, she was close to 30 years old at the time of her marriage.

In 1816 Thomas Mead was one of the early settlers of Pike County, Indiana, where he was elected a Justice of the Peace in 1818.[27] Thomas Mead died in 1835 and left a will, which is now missing.[28] Sarah (Davis) Mead was still alive in 1844; all of her children in Pike County had predeceased her.[29] It is claimed that she was buried in the same cemetery as her husband, in an unmarked grave.[30]

3. Benjamin, born before 1757, a Revolutionary soldier,[31] married Lydia Meador (presumably a second marriage) 31 Jan. 1800. Lydia's father Joab Meador made his will on 25 Feb. 1815, naming his "friends" Benjamin Davis and Thomas Davis (together with two others) as executors.[32] Benjamin and Lydia had a daughter Nancy who married Samuel Thompson in 1822 in Pittsylvania County[33]; and Benjamin and Lydia's daughter Sarah married her first cousin Jamison Corbin.

4. Daniel, perhaps son of William, appears on the 1778 Pittsylvania tithable list; living with William Davis in 1779 tithable list.

5. Garret, presumably son of William, living with William Davis in 1779 tithable list. William's youngest sons Joseph and Thomas both named sons Garrett, supporting the supposition that Garret was son of William.

6. Elizabeth (Bettie), married Daniel Bradley -- marriage bond 17 May 1784; her brother Benjamin was surety.[34] It appears that Daniel Bradley was born in Cumberland County, son of Isham Bradley.[35] Daniel Bradley was born about 1757, and moved from Cumberland County to Pittsylvania County in 1783, per his 1832 revolutionary pension application.[36]

On 1 Dec. 1786 Daniel Bradley received a gift of 100 acres of land on the north side of the Bannister River by his father-in-law William Davis.[37] Daniel Bradley appears in the 1786 and 1787 Pittsylvania County personal tax lists (on the same page as William Davis), with one horse, two cows, and one slave under 16. In 1788 and 1789 Daniel Bradley appears with two horses and no slaves.

Daniel Bradley made his will 20 Aug. 1831 and it was probated 16 Apr. 1838. The will mentioned son Isham and "my daughters." The executors were his sons-in-law Reuben Hall and William Chaney. Witnesses were Thomas Wooding, Thomas Davis, Jr., and Lydia Davis.[38]

7. Nancy, married William Ricketts 4 June 1789. Nancy was his second wife; he had four children by his first wife Barsheba Nelson.[39] William and Nancy Ricketts had children Reuben, Nancy, Nathaniel, and Thomas.[40]

8. John, apparently born around 1768, if he was indeed the extra adult male in William’s household per the 1789 personal property tax list. John was mentioned first in his father's will, receiving three cows and no land. Some researchers have assumed that John was the same as the John Davis who married Nancy Hodnett 26 Sep. 1803 in Pittsylvania County. This is false, as the John Davis who married Nancy Hodnett was clearly identified as “Jr.” – apparently the son of William's presumed brother John Davis who lived near William and later moved to Pigg River.

9. Susanna, married William Corbin 19 Feb 1787; she was under age at the time of her marriage (her father William gave consent). William Corbin appears in the Pittsylvania County personal tax lists in 1788 and 1789, but I didn't find him in 1790 or 1791. William died before July 1801, when his father Ambrose Corbin was appointed guardian of William's children Jamison, Thompson, and Mary Corbin.[41] Jamison Corbin married his first cousin Sarah Davis, daughter of Benjamin.

Susanna Davis, widow of William Corbin, married (2) William Nelson, whose sister Barsheba was the first wife of William Ricketts, husband of Susanna Davis's sister Nancy.[42]

10. Peggy (Margaret), m. Moses Cheney 15 Aug 1791. "Moses Chaney, the son of Sarah and Jacob Chaney (Chapter I), settled two miles southeast of Laurel Grove, Virginia, on the place now owned by Witcher Slayton. Moses married Margaret Davis, and to this union were born six children. Their names were as follows: William, Singleton, Bird, Moses, Betty and Sallie. Margaret died and after her death Moses married Sallie Polly, a widow, whose name was Haley. To this second union were born two children, Jackson and Eleandor, Moses was a farmer by occupation."[43] Moses Chaney's sister Elizabeth married Jonathan Davis, from a different Davis family in Pittsylvania County.

11. Joseph, b. about 1771 (underage in 1790 per father’s will, he first appears in the Pittsylvania personal tax lists in 1793), m. Lucy McGehee Hodnett 19 Mar. 1793 Pittsylvania Co., Va., d. 1 Oct. 1850 at Halifax Co., Va. It appears that several children of Joseph moved to Madison County, Tennessee.[44]

12. Thomas, b. about 1773 (underage in 1790 per father’s will, he first appears in the personal tax lists in 1794), m. (1) Jane Hodnett 13 Jan. 1794 Pittslyvania Co., Va.; m. (2) Sarah Meador 8 July 1797 Pittsylvania Co., Va. Thomas was a prosperous miller and landowner in Pittsylvania County. Children by second wife Sarah Meador: --Garrett B.; m. Anna Thompson 1 Oct. 1822 Pittsylvania Co. --William, b. 13 Apr. 1800; m. Carmelia Craft 24 Oct. 1824 Pittsylvania Co. --Mary Taylor, b. 1803, m. Robertson Shelton 3 May 1819 Pittsylvania Co.[45] --Thomas C., b. 1805, m. Elizabeth Sheppard 22 Nov 1824 Pittsylvania Co.

13. Lucy, married John Hodnett 9 Nov 1792; apparently m. (2) Jessee Woodson 1809.[46]

Footnotes
↑ Culpeper County Minute Book 1763-1764, p. 370, in Ruth and Sam Sparacio, Virginia County Court Records, Culpeper County , Virginia Minute Book 1763-1764 (Antient Press, 1998), p. 65, cited in an e-mail from Joan Horsley, 5 Mar. 2012.
↑ Will of William Davis of Lunenburg County, Virginia.
↑ See Davis Family History: a poorly-organized collection of notes on the Davis family in Pittsylvania County].
↑ e-mail from Joan Horsley, dated 15 Apr. 2012, reading as follows: "I corresponded back in 2006 and 2007 with several long-time Moyers/Myers researchers. Their information says that George Moyers (that became Myers in Pittsy), son of George Moyers and Sarah Delph, was born in Orange/Culpeper before 1741, since George and his widowed mother in Culpeper sold part of his deceased father's Culpeper land in 1762-3, thus was at least 21 by then. (George Moyers' family was part of the Germanna community in the part of Orange that became Culpeper.) George is not recorded in Pittsylvania until 1779."
↑ Culpeper County Deeds, C:605, quoted at "The Baker Family of Virginia", with the following supplementary explanation: "Based on the witnesses, this Culpeper deed was obviously made in Spotsylvania County. William Davis was the son of John Davis of King William County, who appears to have been John, son of William Davis, whose plantation was on the opposite of Major John Waller’s 1696 from the Davis Davenport Plantation. [There was a John Davis of King William County, son of William, who deeded land in 1702 per Harris's Old New Kent County, p. 102.] William Davenport was the son of Martin, Sr., and was neighbor to the principals and witnesses of this deed. The two Thomas Minors were father and son. Thomas, Sr., was son of John Minor, Decd., and died before the Revolution. Thomas, Jr., had an active role in Davenport affairs from the mid-1770s on, and was one of the executors of William Davenport’s will in 1798. John Arnold was a brother-in-law to William Davenport, and lived on Davenport land."
↑ See 2010 post at rootsweb archive. More information on the family of this William Davis of Kentucky is available at this genforum post and this rootsweb family tree.
↑ Joan Horsley, "The Jarrell Family of Early Virginia" (2012), pp. 4-5.
↑ John Schmeeckle's research has uncovered no less than ten separate Davis families in Pittsylvania County before 1800. Some of these families are doubtless related to each other. John has a master list (microsoft word document) of early Davis records in Pittsylvania County, sorted by family, which is available to anyone who is interested.
↑ Pittsylvania County Deed Book 5, pp. 145-47.
↑ For photos of the house see Danny Rickett's blog
↑ Pittsylvania County Land Surveys, vol. 1, p. 337; the general shape of the tract is diagrammed on the page.
↑ Marriage bond, from the Pittsylvania Courthouse, photocopy sent to John Schmeeckle by Sarah E. Mitchell.
↑ Images of the personal property tax lists are available at the subscription website [www.binnsgenealogy.com www.binnsgenealogy.com]
↑ See 1782 Land Taxes Pittsylvania County, Virginia
↑ Pittsylvania Deed Book 17, p. 477, 10 Mar. 1812 (recorded 16 Mar. 1812): George Myers to Moses Hutchings and George Giles, all of Pittsylvania County, “whereas William Davis, deceased, did in his livetime give his bond to the members of the Baptist church (known & called by the name of upper Bannister)” for “one and an half acres of land whenever they might call for the same, where the present meeting house now stands, and the right of said land being in George Myers, and he wishing to comply with said bond,” the church appointed Hutchings and Giles trustees to receive the land (paying one dollar), on the waters of the Bannister River, adjoining Leftwich. Signed: George (x) Myers (his mark). Witnesses: Will Turnstall, Jesse Leftwich, William Hutchings. Pittsylvania Deed Book 18, pp. 501-502: 24 Nov. 1813 (recorded 18 July 1814): George Myers and wife Mary to William Turnstall, all of Pittsylvania County, 33 acres on Cherrystone Creek, being part of the tract where Myers now lives, adjoining Turnstall (formerly Hardy), and up the sill house branch to Pigg Road, and then along Pigg Road. Signed: George (x) Myers (his mark), Mary Myers. Witnesses: William Walton, John Myers, Benjamin Myers, Isham Myers.
↑ Copy of the marriage bond, from the Pittsylvania Courthouse, sent to John Schmeeckle by Sarah E. Mitchell.
↑ Thanks to Joan Horsley for sharing William Davis’s land tax records.
↑ Pittsylvania County Deed Book 7, pp. 719-720.
↑ Davis Family History, citing Pittsylvania Co. Deed & Will Book 11, p. 216.
↑ Pittsylvania County Court Order Book 3, p. 127. The record clearly shows the unusual name “Noire.”
↑ Per the Germanna Colonies forum archive.
↑ Per 1782 Land Taxes Pittsylvania County, Virginia.
↑ Per the 1782 Pittsylvania County census
↑ Per her 1843 widow's pension application (in the same file as her husband's earlier pension application -- images available at ancestry.com) which gave her age as 90; the following year her age was given as 91.
↑ He used “Maid” early in life and “Mead(e)" later in life. His 1833 pension application pointedly gives both spellings repeatedly.
↑ Per copy of marriage bond in Thomas and Sarah Mead’s pension file, corresponding to the marriage bond on file at the Pittsylvania County courthouse.
↑ History of Pike and DuBois County, Indiana, p. 251, p. 289.
↑ Pike County, Indiana Will Abstracts 1817-1895, p. 13. A local librarian's visit to the courthouse disclosed the fact that all documents related to Thomas Mead's estate were missing at the time the estate files were microfilmed.
↑ Per her widow's pension application; the only witness available to support her affidavit was her daughter-in-law Polly.
↑ Per Pike County History Bicentennial Year 1776-1976, by Ruth McClellan, p. 163, which misidentifies her as "Lucy."
↑ Per Davis Family History.
↑ Abstracts of Pittsylvania County, Virginia Wills, 1767-1820, p. 214. For Joab Meador's family, see http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=monkeys&id=I14768 and duplicate http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=crystalinda22&id=I121128; see also http://genforum.genealogy.com/meador/messages/495.html with a list of researchers.
↑ per http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/t/o/n/Anna-Toner/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0031.html
↑ Per Hodnett Family History.
↑ Per http://www.hallgenealogy.com/ghtout/gp1272.htm
↑ Pension application of Daniel Bradley
↑ Pittsylvania County Deed Book 7, pp. 719-720.
↑ Per http://www.hallgenealogy.com/ghtout/np64.htm, citing Wills of Pittsylvania Co., VA 1820-1845 by Mike K. Williams.
↑ Per Descendants of Ambrose Nelson.
↑ Per Descendants of William Ricketts
↑ Per Corbin family website.
↑ See Descendants of Ambrose Nelson.
↑ See Chaney family history.
↑ Per a forum post by James Davis. For Lucy Hodnett's ancestry, see this McGeehee tree.
↑ Per The Families of James Shelton of McMinn County, Tennessee and His Father Roderick Shelton of Buncombe County, North Carolina and Their Antecedents, by Arthur Paul Shelton (August 1987), Chapter 7.
↑ See this Hodnett page (with various Davis connections), but there seems to be confusion about whether mother or daughter married Jessee Woodson: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=AHN&db=eleanor&id=I07766
Acknowledgments
Thank you to John Schmeeckle for creating WikiTree profile Davis-19677 through the import of mother_s mother.ged on Dec 3, 2013.

(Rev) married Susanna Wills on 5 May 1772 in , Halifax, Virginia, USA. Susanna (daughter of Filmer Wills and Ann Harwood) was born in 1725 in , Middlesex, Virginia, USA; died on 4 Jun 1790 in , Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA; was buried in , Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Elizabeth Shelton on 9 Oct 1728 in Christ Church, Middlesex, Virginia, USA. Elizabeth (daughter of Ralph Shelton, Sr and Mary Jane Crispen) was born on 25 May 1711 in Christ Church, Middlesex, Virginia, USA; died in 1749 in , Hanover, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Filmer married Ann Harwood. Ann was born in 1715 in , Warwick, Virginia, USA; died in 1752 in , , Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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 married 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]