This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: HCS21 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.shelton/3395.1.1.1.1.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The record of the arrival of Ralph Shelton of Middlesex County, Virginia, as a headright of Thomas Merriwether is recorded in 1702 in Essex County,VA, Deed and Will Book No. 10,1699-1792,page 133. There is no indenture record for Ralph and Thomas Merriwether left Ralph land in his will, recorded in Essex County, VA, Deeds and Wills Book No. 13, 1707-1711, on Jan. 7, 1708/09. The death of Ralph Shelton is recorded in Christ Church Parish Register, Middlesex County, VA, page 189, in March, 1733. Recorded in Middlesex County, VA, Will Book B, 1713-1734, pages 418-419, is the will of Ralph Shelton, dated March 10, 1733. Ralph did not died after 1773. By that date Ralph had been deceased for forty years and all of the family of Ralph Shelton had been long gone from the Middlesex and Essex Counties area. By that date Crispin; Ralph, Jr.; Daniel; John and Benjamin were living in Pittsylvania County, VA. James was living in Lunenburg County, VA, where he died and where his will is on file. Benjamin later moved to Caswell County, North Carolina, where his will is on file. The land on which Ralph, Jr., settled fell into Henry County when that county was created out of the territory of Pittsylvania County and later fell into Patrick County when it was created out of the territory of Henry County. The will of Ralph, Jr., is on file in Henry County, VA, in 1789 but the final records of his land are Patrick County. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.