This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/pV.2ADI/602.2.1.1 Message Board Post: The following info was received from Christopher Linson who received it from Wanda Clark. The name of Eli Sherrill's first wife is not known for sure. However, an Eli Sherrill married a Nancy Phen in Knox Co., KY on Jan. 13, 1814. Knox County was on a direct migratory route from Burke Co., NC. However, Eli's first two children were born before 1814. Eli Sherril divorced a "Clarissa" (no last name given) in Arkansas on May 29, 1833. It is not clear who this is; however, according to date of marriage it would have to be Nancy Henson. By 1850 Eli is living in Ruddell Township, Independece Co., Arkansas with a spouse and 7 children. He disapears from the census records after this point. Sometime after 1850 Eli and Fereby Sherrill move to Jefferson Co. where he purchase land on Dec. 1, 1857. At this point in time he was 70 years old. Professions: 1840 - blacksmith 1850 - farmer Provided by Wanda Clark ELI P. SHERRILL'S first wife is presently unknown. It is believed that his full name was Eli Perkins Sherrill, but this is not a proven fact. He migrated with his younger brother Alfred, and probably other relatives to Arkansas Territory in 1819 3 In an article written in 1856 for the Washington, Arkansas Telegraph, Charles Fenton Mercer Noland wrote a description of Batesville, Arkansas, as he saw it when he visited it in 1826. In it he wrote "Eli Sherrill, the only blacksmith."3 An earlier record on Eli is the 1824 Independence Tax List compiled by the county's first sheriff. The record lists Eli Sherrill among the taxpayers. The next known record on Eli is May 1, 1827, when he married Nancy Henson in Independence County, Arkansas. So it appears his first wife, whom he had married in North Carolina, and who migrated with him to the Arkansas Territory in 1819, was the mother of at least six of his many children, died sometime prior to the spring of 1827. The next discovered record on Eli Sherrell is when he gave a mortgage to Hartwell Boswell, both of the town of Batesville, Arkansas, on lots 4, 5 6 and 7, block l3, Batesville, blacksmith's tools, livestock, personal property. It was shown as satisfied in full, the mortgage was given on February 20, 1828. James Davis and John Redmon were witnesses. The next record for Eli Sherrill appears when he divorced his wife, Clarissa in 1833.7Either his marriage to Nancy Henson was of short duration, or she was Nancy Clarissa. Research has not turned up a marriage license to a Clarissa. His last recorded marriage is that to Ferrebe Ransom. Her maiden name is reported by some members of the family as Martin, but since one of Eli's sons married a Ferrebe Martin, this could be where that information came from. Ferrebe is the last recorded marriage for Eli so far found. In 1835, Eli Sherrill entered the will of Elizabeth Sherrill for probate in Independence County, Arkansas.8 So far the will has not been found. Letters Testamentary were issued to Eli and to Jacob Fulbright. The Fulbrights had been friends of the Sherrills in North Carolina, and the friendship continued after both families moved to Arkansas. It is presumed that this is the will of Eli's mother, Elizabeth Sherrill, but it has not been proven. Unless "Betsey came to Arkansas with him, and there are no records indicating that she did, it is possible his nephews brought the will, or he had taken it with him when he came to Arkansas. One earlier record for Eli is found in Independence County, when he is listed as guardian of LouiseLarimore, under 14, heir of Samuel. It has not been established that there is a relationship between Eli Sherrill and Samuel Larimore. Sometime after 1850, Eli and Ferrebe moved from Independence County to Jefferson County, Arkansas where Eli purchased land in the SE l/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 23, Township 4 South, Range 8 West on December 1, 1857.9 7397 Pat. Aug.. 1857 Bk. 14, P 179