| Notes |
The records for Evan, his parents, and children, all come from the
records found at St. Caron's Church in Tregaron (now Dyfd). The names
and dates are located in the original records of the Shelby Family
Papers, Library of Congress. These records have been microfilmed and
can be found at the Flilson Club Library in Louisville, KY, and also
the State Archives in Nashville, TN
Although all known sources and accounts of Brigadier Evan Shelby, Jr. state that his birth was in 1720, the research below indicates that Evan’s birthdate was actually in 1725.
The reason for the previous errors, as deduced by Ms. Martin, was that there was no indication of a death date of the youngest Evan Shelby who was born in 1720. However, he must have died as another Evan Shelby was born to Evan (Dhu) and Catherine in 1725 and he in fact was the one who immigrated with the family to America.
The following was posted to the DYFED listserve on February 9, 2010 by Shirley Martin of Dyfed, Wales:
DYFED-L ArchivesArchiver >DYFED >2010-02 >1265758886
From: “Shirley Martin”
Listers,
I would like to correct the date of the Christening of Evan Shelby who emigrated to America about 1735 together with his family. In all the family trees I have looked at give his christening date as 23 October 1719. Before1753 the year started in March and March is month one.
The Parish Clerk in1719 named the month up to August, and then the rest were just given a number, so September was month seven, October was month eight etc., December was therefore month 10. Therefore Evan was born on the 23 December 1719. However, this Evan died as an infant in January 1721 and was buried on the 8th of January 1721. (D.C. Rees in “The History of Tregaron” made the same mistake.
The Evan who emigrated to America was born in 1725 and was Christened on the 14 March 1725. Somebody has entered a X against most of the Shelby entriesin the original register, but has missed marking the death of the first Evan.
I transcribed the all the burials in the Tregaron register up to 1920 for the National Burial Index. I had difficulty in reading sections of the original Parish register in the National Library of Wales and I would have liked to photograph them, but was not allowed to. However, I obtained permission to photo the copy in the Tregaron Parish Church. I was then able to load them on to my computer and enlarge the pages which made them much easier to transcribe.
My work was checked by Auronwy James of the Cardiganshire Family History society, before they were sent off to the National Burial Index.
I have started on the baptisms and have covered 1711 to 1812, but it has not been checked. The early section is in Latin and it takes me a while to transcribe the dates. The Latin is the parish clerk’s own version of the language.
Shirley, Tregaron.
(Courtesy: Empty Nest Genealogy http://emptynestgenealogy.emptynestheritage.com/?p=881)
From: Ancestry.com Biographies ...
Evan Shelby, Jr. was born 23 October 1719 in Tregaron, Cardiganshire, Wales, and died 04 December 1794 in Sapling Grove, Sullivan County, Tennessee. He married Letitia Cox, daughter of David Cox and Susannah, in 1744. She was born 1725 in Maryland, and died 07 Sep 1777 in Charlottesville, VA. He married second Isabella Elliott. She died after 1794.
Evan Jr. became a fur trader, was in Braddock's Campaign (1755), served as first lieutenant to Capt. Alexander BEALL in 1767-8, and later held commissions in both Maryland and Pennsylvania. About 1773, he removed to Sapling Grove where he erected Shelby's Fort in what was then Fincastle County, Virginia, and later Washington County, Virginia, but is today Bristol, Sullivan County, Tennessee. In 1774, he commanded the Fincastle Company in Dunmore's War, and was at the battle of Point Pleasant on 10 Oct of that year. In 1776, Virginia Governor Patrick Henry appointed him Major in the troops commanded by Col. William Christian against the Cherokees. On December 21, of that same year, he was appointed colonel of the militia of newly-created county of Washington, and in 1779, he led an expedition against the Chickamauga Indian towns on the lower Tennessee River.
In October 1780, Evan Shelby, Jr. and his volunteer militia joined almost a thousand frontiersmen in the march on British Colonel Patrick Ferguson. The one-hour Battle of King's Mountain, at which Ferguson was killed and the British troops routed, is credited by most with having turned the tides of war in the south.
In 1781, he was elected a member of the North Carolina Senate, and in 1786, the North Carolina Assembly appointed him brigadier general of militia of the Washington District of North Carolina. In March 1787, North Carolina Commissioner Evan Shelby negotiated a temporary truce with Col. John Sevier, governor of the short-lived State of Franklin. In August 1787, he was elected governor of the State of Franklin to succeed Sevier, but declined. He resigned as brigadier general on October 29, 1787, the last of his public service.
By Letitia Cox, Evan Shelby, Jr. had seven children: Susannah, John, Isaac, James, Catherine, Moses and Evan. By Isabella Elliott he had three more children: James, Letitia and Eleanor. His son, Isaac (right), also had a distinguished career and, in 1792, was elected the first Governor of Kentucky.
Brigadier General Evan S. Shelby Jr., born to Evan Shelby (Selby) and his wife Catherine Morgan was baptized October 23, 1720. His actual birth date is unknown.
He and his family immigrated to America about 1735, when he was about fifteen years of age, and settled in what is later Antrim Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
In 1739, they moved into Prince George’s (later Frederick) County, Maryland where his father died in July 1751.
Evan Jr. continued to reside in Maryland, near the North Mountain, Frederick County (now a part of Washington County) where he obtained by either deed or patent nearly 24,000 acres of land. He became interested in the Indian fur trade and was concerned in trading posts at Michilimackinac and Green Bay.
On February 26, 1745, Evan Jr. purchased property from his father, called “Maiden’s Choice” in Prince George County, Maryland.
Evan married Letitia (Leddy) Cox (Coxe) on December 4, 1745 at Kings Meadow. They had seven children: Rachel, born 1745; Susannah, born 1746; John, born 1748; Governor Isaac Shelby, born 1750; James, born 1752; Catherine, born 1755; Major Evan Shelby III, born 1757; and Moses, born 1761.
In his publication “The Birthplace and Childhood Home of Isaac Shelby in Washington County, Maryland”, 1972, Gerald J Sword describes how Evan and Letitia Shelby lost the fight for their land (part of “Maidens Choice”) to Dr Charles Carroll. It’s not clear who aptly renamed the land to “Shelby’s Misfortune”.
Mr. Sword states:
“…The reason for Letitia to appear in court was to answer charges that she instructed their ‘Dutch servant man’ to cut down and burn the tree marking the beginning point of this land.
In June 1754, Shelby gave a recognizance of 6,000 lbs of tobacco for the appearance of his wife to answer the charges against her in the Frederick Co. Court. The case was continued from time to time until the June court of 1758:
“A suit on behalf of the Lord Proprietary vs Letitia Shelby for destroying a bound tree for a tract of land belonging to Dr Carroll, when it was ‘maked struck off after 15 continuances…”
Marriage Notes for Evan Shelby & Letitia Cox: Marriage date is based on land records for 1744-45, and the proven ages of their children.
Marriages Notes for Evan Shelby & Isabella Elliot: Much to the family's horror and anger, Evan remarried at the age of 67, to a young girl that Gov. Shelby spent years trying to prove was nothing but a golddigger.
Evan’s will was evidently filed in Sullivan County, but was destroyed by the burning of the court house during the battle of Blountville in the War Between the States, 1863.
However, a copy was entered in the Washington County, Virginia, Will book No. 2, page 186, having been probated there on October 25, 1798.
A transcript of the will on record follows:
Dated 21 Feb 1778:
“I Evan Shelby being of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, do dispose of my Estate as follows, Viz. It is my desire that all my just debts be first paid.
Item. I give to my eldest son John Shelby that Tract of land whereon he now lives on Wattago River in the State of North Carolina the purchase money and officers fees that may be due for the said land is to be paid out of my Estate by executors hereafter to be mentioned, my land laying on Buffalow Creek a branch of Wattago aforesaid, I desire my executors to sell and dispose of all the money arising there from to be equally divided between my two grandchildren Evan and Sarah Shelby. Also I give to my said grandchildren to be delivered to them in one year after my death each one a mare to be of the value of twenty-five punds each; I give and bequeath to my son Isaac Shelby, all my part of that tract of land laying in Washington County and State of Virginia known by the name of the Hazel Lands, being one third part of the said whole tract (being on the south and southeast end thereof) which I purchased from Col. William Preston in partnership with John Shelby son and in case the said land cannot be made good by the said William Preston according to my purchase of him, then my desire is that my son Isaac Shelby shall receive in lieu thereof one hundred and fifty pounds out of the remaining part of my estate.
I give to my daughter Catherine Shelby Six Hundred pounds Virginia currency to be paid to her as soon as my lands lying in the State of Maryland can be sold by my executors, and if the sale of the said lands do not amount to six hundred punds the deficiency to be paid her by my executors out of the remainder of my estate.
I also give and bequeath to my said daughter Catherine the mare and her two colts which I had formerly given to her and four couws, also a feather bed, and furniture for it;
I give and bequeath the remaining part of my estate both real and personal to my fours sons vis. Isaac Shelby, James Shelby, Evan Shelby and Moses Shelby to be equally and fairly divided among(s)t them, and lastly my desire is that Isaac Shelby, James Shelby, and Evan Shelby be my executors, to whom I give full power and authority to sell and dispose of my estate in the best manner that each one may receive his or her own part of my estate as before mentioned
…21st day of February, 1778
..signed Evan Shelby
Witnesses: James Thompson, Geo. Blackburn, John Patterson”
SHELBY, Evan, pioneer, born in Wales in 1720; died at King's Meadows (now Bristol), Tennessee, 4 December, 1794. At the age of fifteen he emigrated with his father's family to North Mountain, near Hagerstown, Maryland He received a meager education, but when quite young became noted as a hunter and woodsman. In the old French War he rose from the rank of Private to that of Captain, in which capacity he served throughout the campaign of General John Forbes. He then engaged in trade with the Indians, and afterward embarked extensively in herding and raising cattle on the Virginia border. He was thus employed when, in 1774, war began with the Shawnees and Delawares. Raising a body of fifty volunteers in the Watauga district, he led them on a march of twenty-five days through a trackless wilderness, and joined the Virginia army on the eve of the battle of Point Pleasant .Toward the close of the action, all his ranking officers being either killed or disabled, the command devolved upon him, and he utterly routed the enemy. In 1779 he led a successful expedition against the Chickamauga Indians. He subsequently served with the Virginia army on the
seaboard, rising to the rank of Colonel, and then to that of General. (Source: Edited Appletons Encyclopedia, Copyright © 2001 VirtualologyTM)
SOLDIERS AT THE BATTLE OF POINT PLEASANT:
Captain Evan Shelby's Company of Volunteers, Fincastle... Evan Shelby, Captain Isaac Shelby, Lieutenant James Robertson, Sergeant Valentine Sevier, Sergeant James Shelby, John Sayers, John Findley, Henry Shaw, Daniel Mungle, John Williams, John Carmack,
Andrew Terrence, George Brooks, Isaac Newland, Abraham Newland, George Ruddle, Emanuel Shoatt, Abram Bogard, Peter Torney, William Tucker, John Fain, Saml. Vance, Saml. Fain, Saml. Hensley, Saml. Samples, Arthur Blackburn, Robert Herrill, George Armstrong, William Casey, Mark Williams, John Stewart (wounded), Conrad Nave, Richard Burck, John Riley, Elijah Robison, Rees Price, Richard Holliway, Jarrett Williams, Julias Robison, Charles Fielder, Benj. Grahum, Andrew Goff, Hugh Ogullion, Barnett Ogullion, Patrick St. Lawrence, Jos. Hughey, John Bradley, and Basilael Maxwell.
Shelby, McDowell, Deaderick Anderson Family's by Anna M. Moon, p16: A letter to Judge Sam C. Heiskell from an old citizen of Bristol tells the following- "Abt 1870, 5th St, Bristol, TN was opened and it became necessary to remove the bodies in the cemetery adjoining the First Presb. Church. In this cemetery were the remains of Gen Evan Shelby. Interested parties removed the remains of their own dead, but Gen Shelby's bones were taken up and placed in a common box and were locked up in the City Calaboose [jail] but a few steps away for safekeeping. Just how long they remined there I do not know. I was a boy of 13 years, and remember distinctly of having the skull in my hands. The bones were then reinterred in the East Hill Cemetery which is located in the State of VA & TN. Gen Shelby's remains now sleep in the of old VA and his grave is now covered with the iron slab that was placed on his grave when 1st buried."
Letter written by Mr Charles H. Slack, in the 13 June 1925 issue of the Bristol News...CKS- 1947 MSS p189 includes the whole article... "Gen Shelby's bones were transferred from the jail to the P. O. then the city cemetery in VA. Then in May 1896 with the Civic Ceremonys,
laid to their final rest."
What is now Bristol, Sullivan County, TN - Letter dated Aug 1929 to CKS from Mr Thomas W Preston, President of the King Printing Company, whose plant stands on the north side of Shelby Street nearly opposite the Lutheran Church, said that the fireplug at the southwest corner of Shelby and Fifth is on the exact spot occupied by the original grave. This would place it near the northern line of his property.
The cranberry iron slab that serves as a marker, was obtained from Colonel King's iron works and is the same kind as was later placed on Kings grave. Both are coffin shaped. Shelby's marker bears the inscription: "General Evan Shelby died December 4, 1794 aged 74" cut into the iron. The marker was transferred from the original grave to the new one in the military section of East Hill cemetery at its western end. Evan's widow Isabella, remarried within five years to Alexander Droomgoole - they moved from "Sapling Grove" to Abingdon, VA (Source: Judith Trolinger)
MARYLAND STATE ARCHIVES:
Archives of MD Online
Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1758-1761 Volume 56, Page 134 View pdf image (33K) 134 Assembly Proceedings, Nov. 22-Dec. 23, 175^- Liber H. S.
Session of Assembly, begun and held at the City of Annapolis, the Second Day of October, Seventeen Hundred and Fifty-three; also the Supplementary Act thereto, made at a Session of Assembly, begun and held at the City of Annapolis, the Twenty-third Day of February, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-Six, be, and are p. 376 hereby continued, and shall remain and be in full Force, for and during the Term of Three Years, and unto the End of the next Session of Assembly, which shall happen after the Expiration of the said Three years.
22d December 1758 Read and assented to by the Lower house of assembly Signed p order
MMacnemara Q lo ho On behalf of the Right Honourable the Lord Proprietary of this Province
I will this be a Law
Hor.o Sharpe
23d December 1758
Read and assented to by the upper house of assembly
Signed p order
J Ross O Up Ho
The Great Seal
in Wax app.t
No. 9
An Act to enable the Agents appointed by an Act, entituled, An Act for Granting a Supply of Forty Thousand Pounds for his Majesty's Service, and striking Thirty-four Thousand and Fifteen Pounds Six Shillings thereof, in Bills of Credit, and raising a Fund for sinking the same, to pay the several Sums of Money for Indian Scalps to the Persons in this Act mentioned.
[Preamble.] Whereas it appears to this General Assembly, by a Certificate under the Hand of his Excellency General Forbes, that one Captain Charles (Brother to Custoga, a Delaware Indian), Commanding a Party of Warriors, in a Skirmish near Loyalbanning, was killed on the Twelfth Day of November, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-eight, by Captain Evan Shelby, who commanded a Company of Maryland Voluntiers; and that the Scalp of the said Captain Charles was delivered to the Cherokee Indians by his Desire, in Order, as it is apprehended by this General Assembly, to attach them to the British Interest. And whereas, also, it appears from a Certificate, under the Hand of George Steuart, Esq; one of the Provincial Magistrates, dated at Annapolis, the Tenth Day of December, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-seven, that Lieutenant James Riley produced to him the Scalp of an Indian Enemy, who was killed by a Cherokee Indian, in the English Interest, on St. George's Creek, in this Province, which was burnt by the said George Steuart. And whereas it appears that the said Scalp was purchased of the said Cherokee Indian, by Lieutenant-Colonel Dag- worthy; and it is just and reasonable that the said Lieutenant-Colonel
p. 377
Dogworthy, and Captain Evan Shelby, should be paid by the said Agents, although they may not have complied with all Requisites necessary to impower the said Agents, by the Laws of this Province, to pay for the said Scalps : Acts. 135
Be it therefore Enacted, by the Right Honourable the Lord Proprietary, by and with the Advice and Consent of his Lordship's Governor, and the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly, and the Authority of the same, That the said Agents shall, and are hereby required, out of the Money by the Laws appropriated for Scalps, to pay to the said Lieutenant-Colonel Dagworthy, the Sum of Fifty Pounds Current Money, for the said Scalp, so as aforesaid produced by the said James Riley; and to the said Captain Evan Shelby, the Sum of Fifty Pounds Current Money, for the Scalp of the Indian, so as aforesaid killed by him, and by General Forbes delivered to the Cherokee Indians; and that the same shall be allowed to the said Agents in their Account, out of the Money appropriated to the Payment for Scalps.
Liber H. S. [100l to be paid for two Scalps.]
22d December 1758 Read and assented to by the Lower house of assembly
Signed p order
MMacnemara Cl lo ho
On behalf of the Right Honourable the Lord Pro- prietary of this
Province
I will this be a Law Hor.o Sharpe 23d December 1758
Read and assented to by the upper house of assembly
Signed p order
JRoss Cl Up Ho
The Great Seal
in Wax app.t
774 Appendix.
1758
Volume 55, Page 774 MSS. Archives of Md.
Portfolio No. 3 Paper 22 Hall of Records
July
30....... To Evan Shelby for his Waggon's Attendance on the New Road
.......... 4 10 0
MARYLAND SURVEY PAPERS
(Division Plats)
MSA SE34
Dates: 1763
Description: 3, No. 51A. Evan Shelby. FR. Resurvey on the Mountain of
Wailes. From Land Office (Certificates, Patented, FR) 3962, MSA
S1197-58.
Accession No.: 40,283-156
MSA No.: SE34-139
Cass Knight Shelby (CKS), 1947 MSS., p185
"....John Buchanan sold the tract called "Sapling Grove" to Evan Shelby and Isaac Baker of Maryland after they arrived on the Holston ear
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 expressing
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
Saturday 16th Nov.r 1765
The House met
All the Members appeared as Yesterday Except Mr Ringgold
Major Hynson M.r Hammond M.r Henry Hall Mr Sulivane Col.o
Travers M.r Lecompte Col.o Tilghman & Mr Wright.
L. H. J.
Liber No. 52
Nov. 16
On Reading and considering the Petition and Account of Capt.n
Evan Shelby for provisions and Cloathing &c furnishing a Company
of Voluntiers raised by him in 1758 the same were Rejected
The House taking into Consideration the extraordinary Merit of
Capt.n Evan Shelby in his Spirited Conduct during the late War
and the Advantages derived to the Common Cause thereby the
Question was put that a Sum of Money be given him as a Testimony
of their Approbation
p. 280
For the Affirmative (22)
Plater
Mackall
J. Adams
Key
E. Gantt
Winder
Wolstenholme
Grahame
Edmunson
Sothoron
Hanson
J. Goldsborough
Lloyd
Dent
Gibson
Buchanan
Smallwood
H. Hollyday
Worthington
Wilson
W. Adams
Johnson
Johnson
W. Adams
For the Negative
R. Goldsborough
Murdock
Selby
Lee
Beall
Chapline
J. Hall
Jacob
F. Gantt
Earle
Tyler
Cresap
Baker
Chase
Smith
Hyland
J. Hollyday
Ward
Harris
[19]
The Question was put whether Capt.n Shelby shall be allowed
£200 in Dollars, at 7/6 or more
Resolved that he be allowed £200 in Dollars at 7/6
For 200 £
Lloyd
J. Adams
Hyland
Buchanan
Winder
Ward
Worthington
Edmunson
Bealle
Mackall
J. Goldsborough
Tyler
E. Gantt
Gibson
Cresap
Grahame
R. Goldsborough
Smith
Dent
Earle
W. Adams
Baker
[22]
MARYLAND STATE ARCHIVES...Online
Volume 32, Page 131 - 134:
Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1761-1769
To His Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esqr Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the Province of Maryland. The Petition of the Subscribing Magistrates of Frederick
County.
Most humbly sheweth That your Petitioners, with great Sorrow and Regret find themselves obliged to accuse two of their own Members of a Scandalous Abuse of that Power which your Excellency hath thought proper to intrust them with in joint Commission with your Petitioners. That without insiting upon other Irregularities, your Petitioners will Confine themselves at present to the Information they have received of Capt Evan Shelby, and Mr Joseph Warford, in a Case of Fornication, as follows.
That a certain Catherine Wheate, Daughter of Conrad Wheate, in the Month of September last, Charged Thomas Hynes, on Oath, before Capt Thomas Price, one of his Lordship's Justices of this County, with being the Father of her Bastard Child. Whereupon Capt Price took Recognizance for her appearance at November Court, and also for the Man's appearance and made return thereof accordingly. That the said Hynes appearing at the said November Court, but the young Woman not appearing, the matter was respited till March Court following. That Hynes, in the Interim, apply'd to Capt Evan Shelby for a Warrant to take the Child from the said Catherine its Mother, which was granted in the form of a Search Warrant for Stolen Goods; and in pursuance thereof, on the 2d December Barnett Johnson Constable of Linton hundred, with five more, went to the House of Conrad Wheate, and after calling for Whiskey, and making other Pretences, at Length demanded of Conrad Wheate to deliver up his Daughter's Child, pretending they had an Order of Court for it: Which Wheate demanding to see the Order, and finding the same only to be an Order of Capt Shelby's, refused to comply with, as his Daughter was under Recognizance already. Upon which Refusal a Riot ensued, a Door being broke open, and several of the People of the House severely beaten by the Constable and his followers, who seized the Child, and carried it to the House of Ralph Matson where Capt Shelby was, who received the Child from the Constable, and delivered the same to Willm Hynes.
That Joseph Flint, and Thomas Brooks being offered on the young Woman's part as her Security for keeping the Child off the Parish, were refused by Capt Shelby, who also threatened that if ever he catched Conrad Wheat in Maryland he would have him cropp'd for disobeying his Orders in not giving up the Child, and declared if he had gone there in
Person he would have burnt Wheate's House over his Head and at the same time took Bond in his Lordship's behalf of William and Thomas Hynes in the Penalty of £100 to keep
the Child off the Parish.
That upon Complaint of Conrad Wheate and the others who had been beaten Hynes and the other Rioters were brought before Mr Joseph Warford, where finding the matter more serious than they had imagined, and likely to become a Court Business, Thomas Hynes gets the Girl on his Lap, and (as Mr Warford writes in his narrative) was very Sweet. Whereupon Mr Warford Advised the young Man, to a Marriage, which was at Length agreed upon, the Girl's Father promising to give the young Couple £30 & a £5 Wedding.
That during these Transactions, Capt Shelby demanded of Joseph Warford a Warrant for the young Woman's fine, which Mr Warford refused to Grant he also refused to sign one drawn up by Capt Shelby, and presented to him for that purpose. Whereupon the Capt Signed it himself, had her immediately taken into Custody, and again discharged her on receiving a Promissary note from Thomas Hynes for the amount of her fine.
That Cap' Shelby at Length proceeded to the Marriage ceremony, which he performed by asking the young Man whether he would take that Woman to his lawful Wedded Wife? and put the same Question, mutatis mutandis to the young Woman; after which he pronounced them to be lawful Man & Wife, saying Jump Dog, Leap Bitch, and I'll be damned if all the Men on Earth can unmarry you. That the new married Couple were put to bed in Mr War- ford's own Bed, with the usual Ceremonies of throwing the Stocking &c. Mrs Warford having previously received five Shillings for the use of the said Bed. And the whole Proceedings on the Riot &c. quashed at once.
That some time after the young Couple had been left to themselves, the young Man wanted to leave his Consort: and opening the Door would have come out. But was prevented by Capt Shelby, who opposed him with a fork in his hand, which he threatened to jobb into his Cutts if he attempted to leave his Wife. Whereupon the young fellow retired peaceably, and was found by the Company early in the Morning fast asleep in Bed with his Consort.
That a review of the above recited Transaction may be sufficient to shew how incapable either of the above mentioned Persons are to sustain the dignified Character wherewith they
are invested; and how unworthy of that high Trust which their ignorance of the Laws, whereby the Community is to be regulated, their assuming to themselves Powers with which
they are not invested, and their turning the Execution of their Office by indirect Means to their own private Emolument and the scandal of Public Justice, have so grossly abused.
Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that the aforesaid Captain Evan Shelby, and Mr Joseph Warford may be left out of the Commission for the Peace in Frederick County, that the whole Body (otherwise, We hope, respectable) may not be wounded thro' their Sides or laughed at as their Associates. And, as in Duty bound they will ever pray &c.
Andrew Hugh Willm Blair Peter Bainbridge T: Dickson Thos Price Wm Luckett.
Ordered that the Clerk Write the following Letter, which was transmitted under a Cover to Mr Darnall.
"Gentlemen
I am Ordered by the Governor and Council to inform you, that in Considering a Petition preferred to his Excellency by you, complaining of the Behaviour of Capt Evan Shelby and
Mr Joseph Warford two Magistrates of Frederick County, they observe the following Words made use of Vizt " without insisting upon other Irregularties " which contain an Insin-
uation that there are other matters of Complaint against these Gentlemen, besides those set forth in your Petition, and as they propose to make a full enquiry into the Truth of the
Misbehaviour of these Magistrates, they desire that you will transmit to them whatever further Charges you have against the said Capt Shelby and Mr Warford, in Order that the whole
may be examined together. 134 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1761-1769.
I am Gentlemen your most Obedt Servant
Upton Scott Clk Con.
To Mess" Andw Hugh, P: Bainbridge
T. Price, W: Blair, J: Dickson, &
W: Luckett, Justices of the Peace
for Frederick County."
Sapling Grove predates TN and Bristol..
On 22 Feb 1749/50, there had been surveyed by Thomas Lewis (surveyor of Augusta Co, VA) for John Tayloe, Jr, of Richmond Co, 1, 946 acres of land on Shallow (now Beaver) creek, a tributary of Middle Fork of Indian (now Holston) River, to which tract was given the name "Sapling Grove." Tayloe assigned his rightover to John Buchanan and the latter sold the tract to Evan Shelby and Isaac Baker of Maryland.
Buchanan, however, gave the purchasers no deed to the property, since he had not then received a patent for it, nor was the patent issued until 23 Dec 1779, after Buchanan had died. It was made out to William Preston and William Campbell, the executors of Buchanan's estates; but for some unknown reason they also failed in their lifetime to give deeds to Baker and Shelby. In the meantime both Baker and Shelby themselves died and it was not until 1795 that Shelby's heirs got title to his half of the property and on 2 Nov 1799 they were given the deed being made out by the executors of William Preston, dec'd [Washington Co, VA deed book No. 2, pg 223]
The plat of the original survey of Sapling Grove, is in the Augusta Co, VA surveyor's book and also in the files of the Virginia Land Office. The twin cities of Bristol,
VA-TN, cover practically the original survey.
I have a photocopy of the original land plat, found in the Shelby Family Papers in the Library of Congress..There is also a bill of sale dated 11 Feb 1773 showing Evan taking possession of the Sapling Grove tract.
The land was already known as "Sapling Grove" when Isaac Baker and Evan Shelby bought the land from Col John Buchanan-At which time the land was thought to be in Virginia. Evan died while living on this land in 1794. His widow [2nd wife] Isabella (Elliott) Shelby remarried a few years later to Alexander Dromgoole- They had 2 children while living on this land. Isaac was the executor of his fathers estate. When Isaac settled this part of the estate [late 1799], he wrote, "I have no farther demands against said Isabella on account of the said Estate, nor has she any farther claim against sd Estate either for Dower or otherwise and further it is a primary object in the settlemt. which I have made with sd Isabella that Alexander Dromgoole is on no pretence whatever to set his foot on the Sapling Grove Plantation belonging to me" Isaac, sold this tract to Col James King on 26 Nov 1814 for $10,000. [The Shelby Family Papers-Library of Congress] (Source: Judith A. Trolinger)
In the Draper Manuscripts 4CC85a-b a Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas statement-
I knew Capt. Edward Worthington, he was an Irishman and had a wife or rather a woman by the name of Betsey with who he lived as such, and when he marched with General Clark against Vincennes in the fall 1778 he left her in Harrodsburgh and an amusing anecdote took place between her and Evan Shelby who had a sham wedding with her.She insisted it was a good marriage and it cost Evan some trouble and money to get clear of her. She afterward met Capt. Worthington at the fall of the Ohio and they returned to Harrodsburgh in 1781 or two and lived there for several years and then moved up to Lincoln County near Danville on Clark's Run and some years after that he went to New Orleans and died there.
She's speaking of Capt. Worthington dying in New Orleans.
I thought I might be able to gain some perspective on this marriage from the Shelby line. Betsey seemed to be a character and somewhat of a mystery. I was hoping the Shelby's might have some information on her or the marriage.
On 5 March 1783 Lincoln County court. The grand jury appeared to the adjournment and were sent out of the Court and after some time returned and presented, Elizabeth Stephens alias Elizabeth Shelby for committing fornication with Edward Worthington. Edward Worthington for committing fornication with Elizabeth Stephens alias Elizabeth Shelby" Defendants did not appear in court to answer the charges.
6 March 1783 The Attorney General orders that the presentment made by the grand jury yesterday against Edward Worthington for living and cohabiting with Elizabeth Stephens alias Elizabeth Shelby, in adultry are quashed. Edward Worthington fined 500 pounds of tobacco for failure to appear. Lincoln Co. Court
I think Elizabeth at times went by the first name of Mary.
I also think that some time after all of these court proceedings she and Capt. Edward did marry. Preachers were few and far between back then, and I guess they just decided to "cohabitate". By this informaation being in the Draper Manuscripts I think there must be some truth to it. The gossips seem to know about it.
Please, if you can uncover anything from the Shelby viewpoint I would be most interested and grateful for any information.
I am descended from the Worthington camp and all this stuff with Betsey, Mary, Elizabeth Stephens Shelby Worthington. (Source: Beverly Pennington - 2004)
|
1720 - 1794 (74 years)