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/3279.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The man referred to as Major Thomas Shelton in the history of the Shelton family originating at Rural Plains, Hanover County, VA, was the son of David Shelton, son of John Shelton who built Rural Plains. The source for date of his death is the Providence Presbyterian Session Book where it is recorded he died on June 19, 1826, at the age of 75 years. This book is held in the collection of The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. The will of Major Thomas Shelton was probated on July 10. 1826, Louisa County Will Book 7, page 161. . Sarah "Sally" D. Miller was the third wife of Major Thomas Shelton. The marriage bond was issued July 1, 1823, Goochland County, Virignia, with the marriage taking place on July 4. Massie Shelton was the daughter of Major Thomas Shelton and his first wife, Cicley Dabney whose marriage bond was issued on February 12, 1782, Louisa County, Virginia. Massie Shelton was born about 1789. She married her cousin, John Payne Shelton. The marriage bond was issued on July 15, 1805, and the ceremony was performed on July 28, 1805, from Goochland County, Virginia, records. Her will was probated November 10, 1862, recorded Louisa County, VA, Will Book page 289. For, the record, the second wife of Major Thomas Shelton was Sarah "Sally" Farrar with Louisa County, VA, marriage bond dated May 12, 1809. Her marriage contract with Major Thomas is on file in Louisa County, VA, Deed Book L, page 234, recorded August 14, 1809. Colonel Joseph Shelton was the son of David Shelton, son of John Shelton, builder of Rural Plains; therefore, a brother of Major Thomas Shelton. Given in the Revolutionary War Application papers (S-7481) filed by Joseph is the date of his birth: March 16, 1761. Colonel Joseph Shelton was a Scout for LaFayette. He died intestate in 1846. See Appraisal and Settlement in Goochland County records (Deed Book 34, p. 358, dated May 26, 1846) and in Louisa County records. Sarah Shelton, who married Patrick Henry reputedly at age 16 in the parlor of Rural Plains, was the daughter of John Shelton, II, son of John Shelton, builder of Rural Plains. John Shelton, II, and David Shelton were brothers and when John, II, released his guardian David was witness. Therefore, Sarah Shelton and Major Thomas Shelton were first cousins, the children of brothers. The portraits on loan to the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities which hang at Scotchtown are those of Major Thomas Shelton, his second wife Sarah D. Miller, his daughter Massie Shelton (Mrs. John Payne Shelton) and his brother, Joseph Shelton. Major Thomas Shelton was buried at "Roseneath", his home in Louisa County. Colonel Joseph Shelton was possibly buried at "Old Town", Louisa County, VA, the home of his father, David Shelton. Joseph Shelton was the last of his family to die. A Researcher has noted "In 1961 there was evidence of a cemetery at Old Town. House gone. Field of corn where house stood" and also stated the site though to be the cemetery was a thicket. A Researcher who was a Shelton descendent stated about Sarah D. Miller :"Tradition says she died and was buried at a place now owned by Mrs. Dorey on #250. She returned to this place, her old home, after the death of Major Thomas." When you ask if there is a Shelton family Bible, to my knowledge, there is no one huge old Bible which was at Rural Plains with the names of all the generations. There are Bibles which were at Rural Plains early on the line but I do not think there is a Bible in the sense that I think you wish to use it. Neither do I think there is a cemetery at Rural Plains which conventiently has headstones that names everyone, giving birth and death dates. Let me give credit where credit is due for this data, a large part of which comes from the research of Margaret Augusta Shelton, who descended through William Shelton, brother of David and John, II. The great-great-great-great-great-grandfather of Margaret Augusta was the first cousin of Sarah Shelton Henry. Margaret Augusta was born in 1908 in Louisa County and died in the late 1980s, living at Maidens, VA. She compiled a mountain of research notes on the family, with asides from her knowledge of the family. There is no index and the bulk of the data is made up of the equivalent of family group sheets supplemented with copies of legal documents such as wills and deeds. A microfilm of this document, (about 500 pages) can be borrowed from the Family History Library of The Church of the Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) and it is entitled "Shelton Collection, ca 1713-1987" by Margaret Augusta Shelton. 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.