Posted on: Pittsylvania Co. Va Queries Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/Pittsylvania?read=163 Surname: SHELTON, CHILTON, BARKSDALE, HEWLITT, MARSHALL, COUSINS, CRUMP, SEYMOUR, GARDNER, ARMISTEAD, MUSTAIN, HODGES, ESTES, PARISH, YOUNG, WILLIAMS, MOSS, MAXEY, BURCH, MADDIN ------------------------- SHELTON/CHILTON. Thomas Shelton, Jr. (26 May 1763, Va. - 20 August, 1857 Brandon, Miss.) is believed to have married (1st) Sarah BARKSDALE, then (2nd) possibly [Sarah or Susan] HEWLITT or HULLETT as claimed in a DAR application, though this seems unlikely, then (3) Phebe Ann Hatcher MARSHALL, widow of Peter COUSINS, in 1809 in Halifax Co., Va., then (4) Sarah CRUMP in 1834 in Franklin Co., Va.. He raised and married off most of his children in Pittsylvania Co., Va., before following a son-in-law to Rankin Co. Miss, where he died a widower at age 94, naming twelve children in his will. The family monument to Thomas Shelton, Jr. at Brandon, Mississippi has on one of its sides a listing for a man believed to be his father: "THOMAS SHELTON 1742 - 1846 AMERICAN REVOLUTION 1777 - 1781 1ST LT. VIRGINIA," possibly the Thomas Shelton who rose to that rank in the Louisa Co., Va. militia, and fought in the Battle of Camden under Capt. John BYERS. Family lore says the elder Thomas Shelton married a CLOPTON girl, and tending to corroborate this, "Clopton" has so far been found as a given name in two descendants of Thomas Shelton, Jr. Lore in the Kentucky branch says this elder Thomas was a merchant who owned stores in Tennessee. However, we have not located records proving this. Family lore in the Texas branch, corroborated by early Pittsylvania Co. records with this spelling, says that the surname was originally spelled "Chilton." Children named in the 1852 will of the Thomas Shelton who died at Brandon, Mississippi in 1857 were: (1) Frances Shelton (ca. 1787, Va. - aft. 1850, Ky.?), who married Parham "Parm" SEYMOR/SEAMORE in 1805 in Pittsylvania Co., Va., and settled in Hart Co., Ky.; (2) Martha "Patsy" Shelton (4 March, 1788, Virginia - 25 December, 1866, Hart Co., Ky.), who married Edmund GARDNER in 1807, in Pittsylvania Co., and settled in Hart Co., Ky.; (3) Nancy Shelton (? - ?), who married Joseph CHANEY in Pittsylvania Co. in 1809, and is believed to have settled in Haywood Co., Tenn; (4) William H. Shelton (9 March, 1792, Pittsylvania Co., Va. - 30 March, 1843, Rankin Co., Miss.), who married (1st) probably Anna HALL in 1816 in Pittsylvania Co., then (2nd) Elizabeth A. ARMISTEAD in 1829 in Pittsylvania Co., and removed to Rankin Co., Mississippi in 1832 per the family monument at Brandon, that was erected by his widow and names him on a third side; (5) Sarah "Sallie" Shelton (8 June, 1798, Pittsylvania Co., Va.- 28 January, 1867, Barren Co., Ky.), who married James W. MUSTAIN in 1814 in Caswell Co., N.C., and settled in Barren Co., Ky.; (6) Lucinda "Lucy" Shelton (ca. 1800, Pittsylvania Co., Va. - 1885, Hart County, Kentucky), who married James Henry HODGES in 1816 in Pittsylvania Co., and settled in Hart Co., Ky., (7) Theopholis Quincy Shelton (9 June, 1803, Pittsylvania Co. Va. - May, 1888, Hart Co., Ky.), who married (1st.) Elizabeth P. DUNN in 1827 in Pittsylvania Co., then (2nd) Mrs. Sarah A. BOHANNON in 1874 in Hart Co., Ky., and was found in Simpson Co., Ky. in 1830, Hart Co., Ky in 1840, Washington Co., Ind. in 1850, and in Hart Co. in 1860 and 1880.; (8) Susan Hewlitt. Shelton (9 June, 1804, Pittsylvania Co., Va. - 6 February, 1884, Clarke Co., Miss.), who married Dr. William ESTES in 1820 in Pittsylvania Co., Va., and settled in Mississippi, where the family is found at various dates in the censuses of Rankin, Simpson and Clarke Counties; (9) Phoebe M. Shelton (ca. 1813, Pittsylvania Co., Va. - aft. 1870), who married James A. PARISH in 1832 in Pittsylvania Co., Va., and eventually settled in Texas, where they are found in the 1860 Nacogdoshes Co. census and the 1870 Wood Co. census; (10) Tarmissa Shelton (12 April, 1812 - 29 October, 1887, Franklin Co., Va.), who married William D. YOUNG in 1833 in Pittsylvania Co., and settled in Franklin Co., Va.; (11) Henry Featherstone Shelton (ca.1819, Pittsylvania Co., Va. - 2 June, 1875, Rankin Co., Miss.), who married (1st) Mary D. WILLIAMS in 1839 in Rankin Co., Miss., then (2nd) Laura A. P. MOSS in 1839 in Rankin Co., Miss., then (3rd) Martha Wilmouth Williams in 1847 in Rankin Co., Miss., and remained in Rankin Co., Miss.; and (12) Harriet Virginia Shelton (5 February, 1821, Pittsylvania Co., Va.. - 6 February, 1872, Rankin Co., Miss), who married Robert MAXEY in 1838 in Rankin Co., Miss., and remained there. Family lore in the Texas branch says that the Thomas Shelton who died in 1857. had 13 children of his own (the Kentucky lore says he had 15), and raised 23 children. Not named in the will of Thomas Shelton, Jr., but possibly also his: (13) Mary M[arshall?] Shelton (ca. 1815, Pittsylvania Co., Va. - bef. 1840?), who married Milton D. YOUNG in 1832 in Pittsylvania Co., and in 1834 had a son named James M. Young who was named in the will of Thomas Shelton, Jr. (14) Jane Shelton (est. 1790 - ?; and we only speculate that she was a daughter), who married Larkin MADDIN in 1806 in Pittsylvania Co., Va., and settled in Hardin Co., Ky. (15) Possibly (this is not proven, and the 1830 Pittsyvania Co. census lists four different Thomas Sheltons) Thomas M. Shelton (c 1784, Halifax Co., Va. - 1849 Hart Co., Ky.), who married Sarah Mary BURCH in 1805 in Pittsylvania Co., Va. and settled in Hart Co., Ky. Thomas Shelton, Jr. wrote his will on April 27, 1852, and it was proved at the September Court in 1857 (Rankin County, Mississippi Records of Petitions, Book C, pp. 148-9; Probate Court Book C, p. 208). The will was witnessed by W. C. HARPER, Thos. WILLIAMSON, and Hezekiah OVERBY, but was admitted to probate on the testimony of W. C. Harper alone, the court finding that Thomas Williamson and Hezekiah Overby were abroad and non-residents of the state. Son, Henry F. Shelton, and son-in-law, Robert Maxey, were appointed executors after posting a $5,000 bond, with W. C. Harper as their surety. Joseph HUDNOLL, John S. HEBRON (sp?) and D. W. WILKINSON were appointed to appraise the estate. The following is a transcription of the will, from a photocopy: Last Will and Testament In the name of God Amen. I Thomas Shelton of Rankin county in the State of Mississippi being now of sound mind and disposing memory and mindful of the uncertainty of life do hereby as to all of my worldly estate, goods, effects and property make ordain and publish the following as my last will and testament, hereby revoking all others by me heretofore made. First I wish all my just debts paid. Secondly, I give and bequeath to my children Frances Seymour, Martha Gardner, Nancy Chany, Sarah Mustine, Lucy Hodges, and Theopholis Q. Shelton one hundred dollars each. Thirdly, I give and bequeath to William Crump and his surviving sisters my negro Girl Elvira. It was desired by my late wife that her sister Miriam [?] Brown should have this girl she being poor. I leave this however with Said Crump and the rest of the sisters. Fourthly, I give and Bequeath to my daughter Phebe M. Parish my little Boy Littleton and fifty dollars in cash. Fifthly, I give and bequeath to my daughter Susan H. Estes one half of the proceeds of my Boy Washington said boy to be sold by my executors and the one half of such sale to be applied as above. Sixthly, I give and Bequeath to my son Henry F. Shelton my boy Cyfax about twelve years he having been in possession of said boy for the last seven years. Seventh, I give and Bequeath to my Little Grandson James Young fifty dollars. Eightly, I give and Bequeath to Mrs. Elizabeth A. Shelton late widow of my son William H. one hundred dollars. Ninthly, I give and Bequeath to my little Grandson Thomas S. Maxey son of Robert and Harriet Maxey my Little Girl Ann Eliza aged about five years (now in possession of Robert Maxey). Tenthly, I give and bequeath to my son Henry F. Shelton my negro woman Julia known as old Julia for the term of twelve months after my death after which I wish her set free in consideration of her valuable services to me. Eleventh, I give and bequeath to Tarmissa Young, Henry F. Shelton and Harriet Maxey (wife of Robert Maxey) the total remainder of my effects, worldly goods and property (my funeral expenses first paid) consisting of two negroes to wit Henry and his wife Julia Ann, household and kitchen furniture, debts due me. In short, everything remaining after discharging the within and above bequests. I hereby appoint Henry F. Shelton and Robert Maxey my Executors to this my last will and testament. In testimony of which I herewith set my hand and seal this 27th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two. Thomas Shelton [seal] Thomas died in the home of his youngest daughter, Harriet Virginia Maxey. A letter from her daughter, Bettie Maxey, probably written to her cousin, Phebe Cousins, describes the death. It was found in a desk at Calland, Virginia that had belonged to Phebe's father, Willis G. Cousins, who was a son of Thomas Shelton, Jr.'s second or third wife, Phebe Marshall, by her first husband. It is written in beautiful script, and demonstrates that Bettie received a superior education for the time (spelling and punctuation as seen in the original). Brandon, Mississippi August 21st/57 Fri. Dear Cousin I have very sad news to relate. our dear grand Pa died night before last about 9 o'clock. he was sick nine days. had the Flux or disease of the Bowels. suffered a great deal. he was perfectly rational to the last. he did not speak for two days before he died but noticed everything around and when we spoke to him. he died very easy. he told us Saturday before his death that he was willing to die. it was really gratifying to all of us. we had no idea he ever thought of dying or hereafter. He is gone, but I trust in Heaven. I received Cousin Royall's letter Sunday and told him about it. he asked if you were all well. Aunt Sue Estes was here during his illness. Ma could not be with him. she was confined last Monday. has a very sweet little girl. has not named her yet. we missed Pa so much. he always was with Grand Pa when he was sick and this time he is in New York. The citizens showed grand Pa a great deal of respect. all assisted us in sitting up at night. I staid with him all the time. he was the strongest person I ever tried to lift. he got up in the bed the morning before he died without any assistance. Cousin you must excuse this letter. I have to write to so many to let them hear. I will send you a paper with his obituary notice in it tomorrow. write soon. all the family join me in love to you all. tell Cousin Royall I will write soon. Farewell Your affec Cou Bettie Maxey We seek bible, court and other records of Thomas Shelton, Jr., his ancestors, spouses and descendants. We would also appreciate family trees and other data of researchers who have connected one or more ancestors to this man, for a compilation that we are preparing. Susan A. Henderson, 555 Ash Street, Winnetka IL 60093 .