Genealogy by Martha

Cross - Love - Culpepper - Herron - Mordecai - Shelby - Cobb

Evan Shelby, Sr.

Male 1690 - 1751  (61 years)


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  • Name Evan Shelby 
    Suffix Sr. 
    Born 1690  Tregaron, Cardiganshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Baptism St. Caron's Church, Tregaron, Cardiganshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Died 18 Jul 1751  Frederick Co., MD. Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I9392  MyTree
    Last Modified 27 Jul 2016 

    Father Philip Selby,   b. Abt 1650, Cardiganshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1731, Irecefel township, Parish of Caronuwch-Clawdd, Co. Cardigan Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 81 years) 
    Mother Margaretta LNU (Shelby),   b. Tregaron Cardinganshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Tregaron Cardinganshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married Between 1670 and 1680  Irecefel township, Parish of Caronuwch-Clawdd, Co. Cardigan (now Tregaron, Wales) Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F4974  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Catherine Morgan,   b. Abt 1699, prob Tregaron, Cardiganshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 1754, prob. Frederick Co., MD Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 56 years) 
    Married 9 Feb 1716  Tregaron, Cardiganshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Thomas Shelby,   b. Bef 1719, Tregaron, Cardiganshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    +2. Brigadier General Evan Shelby, Jr.,   b. 1720, Tregaron, Cardiganshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Dec 1794, King's Meadows (now Bristol), TN Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years)
    +3. Rees Shelby,   b. Bef 1721, Tregaron, Cardiganshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 21 Mar 1812, Chesterfield Co, SC Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age < 91 years)
     4. John Shelby,   b. Bef 1723, Tregaron, Cardiganshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1794  (Age > 71 years)
    +5. Sgt. Moses Shelby, Sr.,   b. 1728, Tregaron, Cardiganshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Oct 1776, Mecklenburg Co., NC Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 48 years)
    +6. Eleanor Shelby,   b. 1730, Tregaron, Cardiganshire, Wales Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1803, York Co., SC Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years)
     7. David Shelby,   b. Abt 1732, Onboard ship or Lancaster Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1802, New Madrid Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 70 years)
    +8. Mary Shelby,   b. 15 Aug 1735, Lancaster Co., PA (now New Franklin Co.) Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Nov 1813, Mecklenburg Co, NC Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years)
    Last Modified 17 Jul 2017 
    Family ID F3280  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Recorded in St. Caron's Church records: Evan Shelby son of Evan
      Shelby, Chr 23 Dec 1719 and buried 8 Jan 1720. (Evan & Catherine's 1st son died close to birth)

      Note-There are no records of departures from England and Wales until 1890.
      Source: http://home.clara.net/wfha/wales/faq/index.htm

      1716 Wales Tregaron Cardiganshire
      9 Nov Evan SHELBY marries Catherine MORGAN [hereafter E&C]
      Source: Letter from Lib of Wales, 26 Mawrth[sic] 1985 in response to a letter from Mrs [Johnnie M] Johnson-..."I am able to confirm that Evan Shelby and Catherine Morgan were married this date"...Our Shelbys
      [Note- The Vicar of St Caron's Church gives date as Oct/Nov 1716]
      2003-Thanks to Ron Shelby, I now have a copy of the original marriage record-gives her name as Catherina.]

      1720 Wales Tregaron Cardiganshire
      23 Oct E&C son Evan Jr is Chr
      Source: Letter from Lib of Wales, 9 Jan 1978 in response to letter from a Miss Wiley- ..."copies from the Tregaron parish register "1720, 10 bris 23, Evanus fil. Evani Shelby, bapt. fuit. Please note that I have carefully checked the date, and that it is 1720, not 1719"]
      [Note- The Vicar of St Caron's Church gives the year as 1719, which is the date all the researchers have used, including Cass Knight Shelby-CKS] Evan's tombstone shows he was 74 when he died 1794, which confirms the 1720 date]

      1735 PA Lancaster (now Franklin) Co "Black Walnut Point"
      4 Jul Evan SHELBY granted a lic for 300a on Potomac Rd, betw Neild's
      FFRIEND [sic] & Edward NICHOLS.
      Source: State Land Office (Dept of Internal Affairs) in the
      Capitol, Harrisburg PA. "Blunston License Book"-a rec of lic
      granted to Sundry persons to settle & take up land on the west
      side of Susquehanah River.
      [Note-This was at the junction of Muddy Run with the Conococheague Cr slightly north of the bridge over the Conococheague a short distance west of the Greencastle Cem.
      This farm later recvd much publicity in the 1840's when it became the site of the Mormon Colony] Source: History of the Little Cove, from the Foreman Series, by Harry E Foreman of Chambersburg PA p160 [He d 1983] (Judith Trolinger)

      1739 MD Prince George's Co Deed
      16 Jun Cert issued by Peter Dent deputy-to Evan Shelby for a 50a tract called "Hunts Cabin" on Licking Cr in that part of the shire which has since become the Indian Spring Dist of Wash. Co, MD.
      (Source: Land Comm's Office, Annapolis MD-Envelope #1130. The pat. entry is
      in liber BY & GS#1, folio 602)

      1739 MD Prince George's Co Warrant
      6 Aug Evan Shelby granted 200a bearing date 7 Jun 1739 called the "Rich Lands" standing near Harris's Waggon Rd on the South & East side of Connegochego Cr abt 1 1/2 miles from said Cr... Surveyed this 9 day of Jun 1739. Patent issued same day
      (Source: Land Office rec's, Annapolis MD-Copied by Cass Knight Shelby [CKS] 22 Sept 1926-CKS Coll, Filson Club Library)

      1739 MD Prince George's Co Warrant
      7 Aug Evan Shelby's Patent for 1000a "Maidens Choice", at the mouth
      of Little Connogocheige [sic] Cr where on a certain Daniel Rose now lives including the Stony Lake & Flaggy Meadow.... Surveyed this 4th day of Aug 1739. Pat. issued same day
      (Source: MD Land Comm's Office, Hall of Rec's Annapolis, Liber E1&2, folio 858) [CKS]
      [Note-"Black Walnut Point" & Maiden's Choice" were in the same valley, just 9 miles apart]

      Notes on Maiden's Choice:
      Washington Co., MD Early Settler Plat Map
      Tract Name: Maiden's Choice
      Patent Date: 4 Aug 1739
      Location: 1000
      Owner: Evan Shelby

      There are twelve Shelbys of the Tregaron, Wales line who served during
      the French and Indian Wars, and the Revolutionary War. They are
      listed in the DAR Patriotic Index, Centennial Edition printed in 1994
      by DAR National Society in Washington, DC. The 4th volume has brides
      surnames.
      (pipelori@fmtc.com) source: Lorene Martens.

      In the Testamentary Proceedings on file at Annapolis it is recorded
      that his wife, Catherine, and son, Evan Jr., filed a bond on July 19,
      1750, as administrators of his estate; but, as he had over his
      personal signature conveyed a piece of land to his son John on May 19,
      his death must have occurred between those two dates, when he was
      between 55 and 60 years old.

      Evan Shelby Sr died at his home, "Maidens Choice". He died Intestate,
      as sworn by his widow Catherine, and son Evan Shelby, as Administrators
      of his estate, on 18 Jul 1751.

      Inventories (1751-2) No. 48 T.A.S., page 332, at the Land
      Commissioner's office The Inventory of Evan's estate was not very large and didn't appear to be worth a whole lot, but shows he had several slaves. Sons, Moses & John, signed as the nearest kin & recorded 6 Aug 1751. James Davies and Isaac
      Baker signed as witnesses. The sale took place on 6 Sept 1751, to be held at the dwelling house of Evan Shelby lately deceased...
      From a few later notations, the sale did not cover all of Evan's debts, as by 1754 Catherine and son Evan were still being sued for his debts. It is unknown if Catherine remained on the home place and died there- Or if she went to live with one of her children.

      The following 'vendue' was taken from the records of the clerk's office, Frederick Co, MD:

      The conditions of this vendue to be held the 6th day of September, 1751, at the dwelling house of Evan Shelby of Frederick County, lately deceased, is as follows:
      First. Whoever buys the value of 20 shillings and upward shall have nine months' credit; and whosoever buyeth under the value of 20 shillings shall pay before he, or they, shall move any particulars, and the highest bidder shall be the buyer after three distinct crings. The administrators reserve one bidding for themselves at every particular, and if, in case any one should return back any of these goods to the damage or hindrance of said sale, shall pay 2 shillings per pound to said administrators, and that every one shall give sufficient security.
      signed: Evan Shelby, Jr Catherine Shelby.

      Inventory of Evan Shelby Sr
      1751 MD Frederick Co Inventory made
      6 Aug. A True Inventory of the appeasement of the goods....of Evan Shelby late of Frederick County Deceased
      in current money so far as the same hat been brought to the Sight and Knowledge of us the appraisers
      having first Qualified according to the Directions and authority to us Given before Nathaniel Alexander
      one of the Justices of the Peace for said County the sixth day of August 1751
      Imprimis [L=pound s=Sterling d=?]
      To his Ridding horse saddle & Bridle & his apparel 14L 10s
      To 6 heads of horses 12L
      To 10 heads of old hordes mares & colts 24L
      To 7 cows 14L 10s
      To 16 young cattle & calves 1 heifer & 1 steer 23L 16s
      To 24 sheep 4L 10s
      To 13 head of swine 3L 5s
      To 25 shoats 2L 10s
      To household goods 14L 9s 6d
      To plow & harrow and some old irons 3L 6s 8d
      To 2 stacks of winter grain 4L
      To 3 servants George Mercy 10L
      To Mary Sterling 5L
      To Ben Knight a mulatto 10L
      To a blind servant man named John Harvey 9s
      The above appraised by us as witness our hands
      James Davies
      Isaac Baker
      Signed by the nearest kin: Moses (M) Shelby and John Shelby.
      Geo. Gorton, Creditor; William Belle Jun Cruder
      (Source: Inventories, 1751-2 (book #48 T.A.S.) p48 (Courtesy of Mrs. Hoberta Frost, Bridgeport TX)

      Appendix D, p325 [book page]-19 Mar 1754-Frederick Co, MD: Docket:
      George Mason & The Ohio Company, sue Catherine & Evan Shelby [Jr],
      Adm's of Evan Shelby on a debt of 4 lbs 15 shillings- Item dated 3 Jul
      1750.. p102 [book page]-Court Dockets show that Catherine & her son Evan Jr,
      were still trying to settle Evan Sr's Estate as late as 19 Mar 1754 in
      Frederick Co. "against Catherine and Evan Shelby for an old debt of the late
      Evan Shelby for L14..5 due since July 3, 1750" This is the last record I
      have found-to date- that mentions Catherine.
      (Courtesy of Judith Trolinger-2004)

      Note: Johnnie Mulinax Johnson gives Rachel Shelby who married 1. John McFarland, and 2. Philip Pindall as being a child of Evan and Catherine. The records of Baptism of St. Caron's clearly state that Rachel was the daughter of Rees.

      It wouldn't be the first time Evan was accused of getting entangled
      with a woman...I don't have it in front of me, but Evan was accused of
      being involved with a Sarah Sanders, while he was in Davidson Co,
      TN..oh, about 1783, I think, but was acquitted...wife Catherine at
      this time was in Montgomery Co, TN. conducting land transactions.
      From the bits and pieces, I suspect Evan and Catherine had a shaky
      marriage.
      (Source: Judy Trolinger)

      Online Archives of the MD STATE ARCHIVES:
      I found the information below in the Online Archives of the MD State
      Archives.
      Note the names of the Parish Church's given to the newly divided "All
      Saints Parish" of Frederick County into three new districts on 21 Nov
      1770.. The Parish church's were named All Saint's Parish Church, Eden
      Parish Church and Frederick Parish Church. Doesn't say what
      denomination the churches were. In Mecklenburg Co., NC the Shelby's
      were involved in the establishment of Presbyterian church's, so most
      likely they were Presbyterians in Frederick Co. as well.

      Moses and Isabel were married in 1746 before the All Saint's Parish
      was divided into three districts in 1770, so the old parish church we
      are looking for must have been named "All Saint's Church". Evan
      spoken of in this document was Evan Jr. He was a Justice so it is
      easy to find state documents recording court proceedings that he was
      involved in. Below came from a State Record of MD.

      "Volume 62,
      450 Assembly Proceedings, November 5-21, 1770. No. 10
      Liber R. G.
      1770
      An Act to Divide All Saints Parish in Frederick County and to
      Erect two new Parishes by the Names of Eden Parish and Fred-
      erick Parish
      [Preamble.]
      Whereas All Saints Parish in ffrederick County is very Large
      extending two hundred Miles or upwards in Length and in some
      Places upwards of fforty Miles in Breadth containing Six thousand
      one hundred and fourteen Taxables and increasing very fast so that
      it is Impossible for one incumbent to perform the Duties of a
      Minister therein
      [All-Saints Parish to be divided into Three Districts, &c.]
      Be it therefore Enacted ,by the right Honourable the Lord Pro-
      prietary by and with the Advice and Consent of his Lordships Gov-
      ernor and the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly and the
      Authority of the same that the said Parish of All Saints in ffrederick
      County Shall be immediately divided into three Several Portions
      or districts as nearly convenient as the Natural Situation will Admit
      so as that each District shall have nearly an Equal Number of Tax-
      ables by Messieurs William Luckett, Jonathan Wilson, Joseph Wood
      Normand Bruce Thomas Bowles Samuel Beall, Evan Shelby, James
      Smith and Joseph Smith or the Major Part of them who are hereby
      Authorized and impowered to make such Division and when so made
      shall and are hereby required to return a Certificate thereof express-
      ing therein the Limits and Boundaries of each District under their
      Hands and Seals to the Justices of the County Court of the said
      County there to be Recorded as a Perpetual Evidence of the Bound-
      aries and Limits of such Districts or Parishes
      [The Church or a Chapel of Ease to be in each District.]
      And be it Enacted that the said Division shall be so made that the
      Parish Church of the said All Saints Parish shall be in one District
      one of the Chapels of Ease belonging to the same Parish in another
      of the said Districts and the other Chapel of Ease belonging to the
      said Parish in the other of the said Districts
      [On the Death or Removal of B. Allen, the Three Districts to be
      district Parishes;]
      p. 99
      [and the Inhabitants to enjoy the Benefits, Privileges, &c. as other
      Parishes now have.]
      And be it Further Enacted that immediately upon the Death or
      Removal of Bennet Allen the present Incumbent the said three Dis-
      tricts shall become and be distinct and Several Parishes according to
      the Limits and Boundaries by which they shall be Respectively laid
      out and ascertained as aforesaid and that the District or parish in
      which the said Church of All Saints Parish shall be, shall still
      retain the Name of and be called All Saints Parish that the District or
      parish in which the Present Chapel of Ease between Monocacy and
      Senaca Creek shall be thenceforth called and Known by the Name
      of Eden Parish and that the district or Parish in which the Present
      Chapel of Ease between Anti-eatam and Conegocheague shall be shall
      thenceforth be called and known by the name of Frederick Parish
      and the Inhabitants of each and every of the said Districts from and
      immediately after the Death or Removal of the said Incumbent shall
      have and enjoy all such Benefits Priviledges Powers and Authorities
      in every respect as the Inhabitants of any other Parish within this
      Province now have or hereafter may have or Enjoy as Parishioners
      and each of the said Chapels of Ease shall then be and be deemed to
      be the Parish Church of the Parish in which the same shall be
      respectively
      Liber R. G.
      1770
      And be it further Enacted that the Freeholders of the said New
      erected Parishes called Eden and Frederick Parishes shall have full
      and ample Power to meet at their respective Parish Churches afore-
      said on the Easter Monday next after the Death or Removal of the
      said Incumbent and then & there elect and Make Choice of Six
      Vestrymen and two Church Wardens in and for each of the same
      Parishes who shall be the Vestrymen and Church Wardens of the
      said respective Parishes for the ensuing Year and the same after-
      wards to alter and renew at such times and in such manner as the
      Laws of this Province do direct and Provide for other Parishes and
      that the said Vestrymen and Church Wardens of each of the said
      Parishes shall be Vested with the same Powers Priviledges and
      Authorities as Vestrymen and Church Wardens of other Parishes
      within this Province are vested with and shall be Liable and Subject
      to the same Penalties and Forfeitures and in such manner as the Laws
      of this Province have Provided in like Cases
      [The Freeholders of the said new erected Parishes, after such Death
      or Removal,are empowered to
      elect Vestrymen &c.]
      By the Lower House of Assembly Nov.* 21.st 1770 Read & Assented to
      Signed by Order Jno Duckett Cl. Lo. Ho
      On behalf of the right
      Honourable the Lord Proprietary of this Province I Will this be a Law
      Rob.t Eden.
      By the Upper House of Assembly 21.st November
      1770 Read & Assented to Signed by Order U Scott Cl. Up. Ho.
      the great seal in
      wax appendantThe Lower House. 159"

      Princeton University in NJ was originally established by a Scot and
      Scot-Irish group called the “New Light” (evangelical) Presbyterians.
      It was originally intended to train Presbyterian ministers coming here
      from Scotland and Ulster, Ireland. It was chartered 1746, opened
      1747, and was re-chartered in 1748. It was called the College of New
      Jersey until 1896. The college opened at Elizabeth, N.J., under the
      presidency of Jonathan Dickinson. Its second president was Aaron Burr
      Sr., father of the famous Aaron Burr. In 1756 the college moved to
      what is now Princeton, NJ. The Shelby's migrated along with other
      Presbyterians with intent to establish new "Meeting Houses" for the
      practice of their Presbyterian beliefs. When the Rock Springs
      Meeting House was established a minister was brought in from
      Princeton.
      Evan Sr. & Catherine Shelby had Mary baptized in the Old Christ
      Church in Philadelphia. That church was an Anglican church
      established by England in about 1690. It eventually became an
      Episcopal church and is still connected to England's Anglican Church.
      The names "Episcopal" and "Presbyterian"are both derived from Greek
      words. "Episcopal" churches, by definition, are churches that use a
      form of government that is Bishopric, which means they are headed by
      Bishops regarded as being in Apostolic succession. "Presbyterian"
      describes churches governed by elected elders. The folks from
      Scotland, as well as the Scot-Irish from Ulster Ireland, were referred
      to as the Presbyters. Most of the early Presbyterian meeting
      houses were governed neither by elders or bishops, but by the
      congregations themselves. These were called Congregationalists. My
      husband's father was a Congregationalist Minister from Pontyprid,
      Wales. I believe that our Shelby's and Alexander's were Congregationalists. They traveled together from PA down the old wagon
      trails to MD, to NC, and finally to TN, MS, AL and TX. The Old
      Meeting House Church at Rocky Springs, that Moses help to found in
      Mecklenburg Co., NC, was funded by Moses' brother in law, Adam
      Alexander, and was also named "Philadephia", after the place the
      Shelby's had first lived in America. When it burned, they built
      another Philadelphia Presbyterian Church. When that one burned, they
      built a final one which is still in use, and is called the
      Philadelphia Presbyterian Church.
      (Source: Martha Mordecai 2006)

      Information below is from Empty Nest Genealogy
      http://emptynestgenealogy.emptynestheritage.com/?p=881
      (I personally have no documentation supporting this information - MCM 2011)
      Evan Isaac Shelby was the son of David Phillip Shelby (1648-1731) and Margaret Alexander (1660- ). He was born about 1694 at the beginning of the reign of William and Mary (1690-1695), and was baptised on September 2, 1694 at St. Caron’s Church in Tregaron, Cardiganshire, Wales.
      He was most likely a farmer and/or shepherd in Wales as these occupations were very common in the mountainous region. Although he would be considered illiterate, he could write his name.
      He married Catherina “Catherine” Morgan (1697-1751) on November 9, 1716 in Tregaron, Cardiganshire, Wales and they had 11 children: Moses Shelby (1718-1776); Brig General Evan S. Shelby Jr. (1720-1794); Rees (Reece) Shelby (1721-1802); Capt. John Shelby (1724-1794); Mary Hannah Shelby (1725-1805); Thomas (James) Shelby (1725-1760); David Shelby (1730-1799); Rachel Shelby (1732- ); Mary Shelby (1735-1813); Eleanor Shelby (1736- ); and Solomon Shelby (1738 -).

      The “Blunstone License Book” of Lancaster County in the land office in the capital at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, shows that Evan Shelby was licensed on July 4, 1735, to take up three hundred acres in the then Indian owned territory west of the Susquehanna River. Here the Shelbys settled on a beautiful spot on the east bank of Conococheague Creek on Potomoc Road, at the junction with Muddy Run, naming their farm “Black Walnut Point”. It was in Lancaster County (now Antrim, Franklin County) “between Neild’s FFRIEND (sic) and Edward Nichols”, five miles north of the Maryland (Mason-Dixon) line, north of the bridge over the Conococheague.
      Two years later he was licensed to acquire an additional 200 hundred acres at Rocky Spring, somewhere near his first tract.
      In late 1739, after his home had been seized to satisfy a debt he owed to a Richard Phillips, he relocated to Maryland, having acquired two warrants for twelve hundred acres in Prince George’s County, in the area which is now the Indian Spring District of Washington County, on June 7, 1739. One tract, called “Rich Lands” was approximately northwest of the site of Hagerstown and had been owned by Dr. Robert Stuart of Annapolis.
      The other, a 1,000 acre tract which he named “Maiden’s Choice”, seems to have been his home plantation. It was a narrow and irregular shaped tract that stretched from the Pennsylvania line southward along the base of the North Mountain three and a half miles. Evan built a house that was situated at the south end, probably on the road that later connected Clear Springs, Maryland, to Mercerburg, Pennsylvania.
      On the 26 Feb 1745, Evan sold 54 acres of “Maiden’s Choice” to his son Evan Jr.
      Evan Sr. obtained other land warrants and secured patents on them over the next eleven years, until he was in possession of 2,500 acres. With the exception of “Rich Lands” and a 50 acre piece called “Hunt’s Cabin”, all of Shelby’s lands seem to have been located between Conococheague Creek and the east side of North Mountain.
      He periodically sold some of his land and also gave some as gifts to his sons. It is recorded in the Testamentary Proceedings on file at Annapolis that his wife, Catherine, and son, Evan Jr., filed a bond on July 18, 1751, as administrators of his estate. However, since he had conveyed a piece of land to his son John on May 19, 1751, his death must have occurred between those two dates when he was about 56 years old.
      He died and was buried at North Mountain, Frederick County (now Washington County), Maryland. His will was probated on July 18, 1751, also at Frederick County.
      The Shelby family is identified with the early history of Tennessee and Kentucky, and they share, with the Seviers and Isbells, the honor of having had the greatest number of representatives in the Battle of King’s Mountain. There were seven Seviers, six Isbells and six Shelbys who participated.
      By coincidence, the youngest soldiers in that same battle were of the same families: James Sevier, sixteen; William Isbell, fifteen; and David Shelby, seventeen.
      Evan Isaac Shelby died intestate and his will was probated July 18, 1751, with his wife Catherine and his son Evan Jr. as Executors. The record of the naming of Catherine and Evan as Executors for the purposes of probate is as follows (verbatim):
      Adm Bond 18 Jul Maryland ss Charles, Absolute Lord and Proprietary of the Province of Maryland and Avalon, Lord Baron of Baltimore, &c, To Catherine Shelby & Evan Shelby Greeting. Whereas Evan Shelby died Intestate, as it is said, We do therefore give and grant unto the said Catherine Shelby and Evan Shelby full power and Authority to Administer all and singular of the Goods, Chattels, and Credits, of the said Deceased: and to exhibit both into our Office for Probate of Wills, &c. Lawfully authorized; touching which Inventory you are presently assigned to perform, or at farthest at or before the 15th Day of October now next ensuing; and an Account within Twelve Months from the Date of these Presents. And lastly, We do hereby constitute and appoint you the said Catherine Shelby & Evan Shelby Administrators of all and singular the Goods, Chattels, and Credits of the said Deceased. Given at Frederick County this 18 Day of July in the 37th Year of our Dominion, &c. Annoque Domini 1751.

      There is a family story that has been passed down through generations. Although there is no recorded evidence to support any of it, it’s worth mentioning in this post as follows:
      It is said that David Phillip (Phillip) Selby was a knight living in a small castle in Cardiganshire, Wales. He was obliged to support the King of England by sending men to fight when ordered. The King requested the men and Shelby sent them to Ireland under command of his son Evan.
      After the end of the campaign, Evan’s family was disgraced when he returned with an Irish, Roman Catholic bride. His parents demanded that she be sent back to Ireland and the marriage be annulled. At that time, Protestants could be executed for marrying Catholics.
      Evan refused. He attempted to settle but everyone shunned him – including his parents. As a result, Evan emigrated to America with his wife and children.
      These circumstances are believed to be the reason Evan never named a son for his father Phillip. His mother’s name Margaret has been passed down through the descendants for generations.