A Whole Lotta Family - Person Sheet
A Whole Lotta Family - Person Sheet
FlagsSlave Owner, War of 1812
FatherRoderick James “Roger” “Old Red” Shelton Sr (1754-1815)
MotherSarah Ursula Briggs (1755-1825)
Spouses
Marriage1810, Greeneville, Greene Co, Tennessee13
ChildrenNaomi (1811-1847)
Birth1795, Ducktown, Southwest Territory (Tennessee)
Death1851, Riceville, McMinn Co, Tennessee Age: 56
BurialShelton Cemetery, McMinn Co, Tennessee2420
Family Media 
ChildrenNancy (1817-)
Cornelia (1819-)
William C (1820-1904)
Andrew Hooper (1822-)
Caroline (1825-1847)
Eliza “Elicy” (1827-1866)
John Ellsworth (1829-)
Jane (1830-)
Birth183411
Death185811 Age: 24
BurialShelton Cemetery, McMinn Co, Tennessee2421
FatherJessey Wood (1813-)
MotherMargaret McCracken (1813-)
Marriage185311
ChildrenSamuel White (1854-)
Cyrus (1856-1875)
Notes for James Shelton
James Shelton (8), born Patrick County, Virginia, March 1, 1791, and his progeny are those with whom the bulk of the data at hand is concerned. James (8) moved with his father’s family to Buncombe County, North Carolina in about 1795. He grew up in that county, the portion of which in about 1850 evolved into Madison County. Madison was formed from portions of Buncombe and Yancey, the latter having been formed in 1833 from portions of Buncombe and Burke Counties. The area along Laurel Creek became known as Shelton Laurel. In 1810 at age 19 James (8) went over to Greeneville, Tennessee, in what is now Greene County, and wed Betsy Lawson, sister of William (Buck) Lawson, a native Tennessean. Betsy, being somewhat older, having been born in 1784, was to be the first of his four wives named in the Shelton family Bible at hand. Records indicate that they first settled on the Nolichucky River near the town of Chuckney, then Jefferson County. It is recorded that Buck Lawson married James’ sister, who was likely Elicy. A record in the archives of the Mormon Church shows that one William Lawson wed one Sally Shelton on May 5, 1785, in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Perhaps this Sally was Roderick’s sister, thereby being an aunt of James (8). Further, William and Sally may have been parents of William (Buck) Lawson, having moved to Tennessee prior to his birth. Betsy and James (8) had a child, a daughter whom they named Naomi, born December 14, 1811. Shortly thereafter Betsy was out of the picture, presumably having died. The Lawson's reportedly took the child Naomi, and James(8) enlisted in the army for service in the War of 1812.
James (8) is on record as having enlisted from Green County on December 20, 1813, and served until May 24, 1814, having been honorably discharged the latter date. He was in Captain Thomas Wilson’s company of Tennessee militia under the regimental command of Colonel Ewing Allison. The company to which James (8) was assigned consisted of dragoons (mounted riflemen) from east Tennessee, the roster of the unit being shown page 14 of this book. They first assembled at Lookout Mountain and from there went to Fort Strother in Alabama. Here General Andrew Jackson had assembled in mid-February in 1814 an army of about 5000 men for fighting the Creek Indians who had been marauding in three states. Hearing that the Creeks had moved to the Great Bend in the Tallapoosa River, known as Horseshoe Bend, and had prepared an almost impregnable fort, Jackson decided to march on the fort. He left a strong garrison at Fort Strother, sent his supplies down the river on flatboats protected by the regulars, and began his march overland to the Horseshoe. On March 26, 1814, he camped with 2000 men five miles distant. On the following day in the early morning he detached General Coffee with cavalry and Indian allies. Coffee’s orders were to cross the Tallapoosa two miles below the Horseshoe, gain possession of the high ground along the river across from the Indian stronghold and close all means of escape in the rear. Jackson planned to storm the breastworks across the neck when Coffee was in position.
Coffee executed the movement faithfully. When he patrolled the opposite shore the eager Cherokee Indians in the command swam the river, captured the Creeks’ unguarded canoes and paddled the canoes back to the side of their allies. Jackson moved to the breastworks and advanced the field pieces to within eight yards of the timber barricade. At 10:30 AM on March 27 the battle began. Jackson opened with grape shot from the field pieces. The small pellets from the cannon sank harmlessly into the great timbers, and the Indians set up a scornful howl. Jackson saw at once that he couldn’t effect a breach with his artillery.
As Jackson opened fire, Coffee placed 200 dismounted cavalrymen in a detachment and ordered them to cross the river to seize the Indian town. The Tennesseeans captured it and set it afire. The smoke and flames signaled to General Jackson the success of the men in the enemy’s rear. When he noticed a slackening of the gunfire near the Indian village, Jackson mistakenly thought that Coffee’s troops were hard pressed. By then it was after noon and the ineffectual bombardment of the Indian defenses had been in progress for two hours. He decided to carry the breastworks with an infantry charge.
The assault party consisted of the 39th United States Infantry under Colonel John Williams and an east Tennessee brigade under Colonel Bunch. The men moved forward steadily under a heavy fire and reached the portholes. Then at close range they returned the fire of the Indians thru the apertures while some of their companions were mounting the breastworks with their bayonets fixed. The first man to reach the top was Major Lemuel Montgomery, a soldier twenty-eight years old from east Tennessee. He waved his sword as a signal to his men to follow, but an Indian rifle ball struck him in the head and he died instantly. Jackson shed tears over this officer, characterizing him as “the flower” of his army. A county in Alabama was named Montgomery in his honor.
Another who leaped atop the wall just as Montgomery fell was Ensign Sam Houston. He was hit in the thigh by a bullet and in the body by a barbed arrow, but he went on over and pitched into the hard battle that soon raged inside. Among the infantrymen who followed, piling over the barricades with bayonets fixed, was likely Private James Shelton. The Indians fought fiercely, refusing to surrender. So many were killed here that day that after this battle the Nation of the Creeks almost ceased to exist. 557 Indian bodies were found on the peninsula besides those that were drowned or shot trying to cross the river to safety. Jackson’s losses were thirty-two killed and ninety-nine wounded. Cherokee Chief John Ross led his tribe in the fight here.
The day following the battle, Jackson marshaled his forces and moved on down the Tallapoosa. Where that river joins the Coosa to form the Alabama River, he constructed a new stronghold, Fort Jackson. The Battle of the Horseshoe ended the Creek wars. From Fort Jackson the company commanded by Captain Thomas Wilson, which included James Shelton (8), returned to Camp Strother where on May 2, 1814, James along with many other east Tennesseans were shown “on command”. He was released to civilian status on May 24.
—
James Shelton (8) died October 9, 1879 at 1:00 o’clock in the morning other records to the contrary notwithstanding. His pension papers in the National Archives show on claimant record received December 18, 1879, that he died October 8, 1879. The family Bible shows also that as the date of his death. The date shown on his gravestone is November 8, 1879, and in a statement signed by Joshua
Ellis and Sam W. Shelton on February 7, 1880, on record with James’ pension papers, they state they saw him die November 8, 1879 and say him buried the following day. The record no doubt thought to be correct when made, was given without checking the records. Following is an entry from Sam’s diary of October 9, 1879:
All night last nite watching for father to die. He died a little past 1:00 o’clock A. M. Thursday. (October 9, 1879, was a Thursday.) He died easy – I know that he is better off now. One of the greatest restraints is taken from my evil inclinations. All my father’s influence over me, and no one ever had more, was for good. One reason for my being a good man was that it pleased Father. The old man died in peace and after having lived for eighty-eight and one half years, he commenced a poor boy, worked hard and now leaves me a good fortune. He tried to rear me right. I think he did his duty by me. I cannot see where in any way he has gone wrong. I shall ever remember him with a grateful heart – I loved him much. He taught me not only by precept but by example as well. He educated me, though himself an uneducated man. I can only say with truth – and everyone who knew him can say the same – that he was thoroughly honest and truthful. He was a saving man. He never talked big about what he was worth. While his name is not known far from home, while he has done no wonderful deed to make him famous, he was never-the-less one of the nobler beings – much nobler doubtless than many whose names are known all over the globe.
Sam was 25 when the above was written.
13Posted 23 Sep 2010 by willownsrn
James (8) is on record as having enlisted from Green County on December 20, 1813, and served until May 24, 1814, having been honorably discharged the latter date. He was in Captain Thomas Wilson’s company of Tennessee militia under the regimental command of Colonel Ewing Allison. The company to which James (8) was assigned consisted of dragoons (mounted riflemen) from east Tennessee, the roster of the unit being shown page 14 of this book. They first assembled at Lookout Mountain and from there went to Fort Strother in Alabama. Here General Andrew Jackson had assembled in mid-February in 1814 an army of about 5000 men for fighting the Creek Indians who had been marauding in three states. Hearing that the Creeks had moved to the Great Bend in the Tallapoosa River, known as Horseshoe Bend, and had prepared an almost impregnable fort, Jackson decided to march on the fort. He left a strong garrison at Fort Strother, sent his supplies down the river on flatboats protected by the regulars, and began his march overland to the Horseshoe. On March 26, 1814, he camped with 2000 men five miles distant. On the following day in the early morning he detached General Coffee with cavalry and Indian allies. Coffee’s orders were to cross the Tallapoosa two miles below the Horseshoe, gain possession of the high ground along the river across from the Indian stronghold and close all means of escape in the rear. Jackson planned to storm the breastworks across the neck when Coffee was in position.
Coffee executed the movement faithfully. When he patrolled the opposite shore the eager Cherokee Indians in the command swam the river, captured the Creeks’ unguarded canoes and paddled the canoes back to the side of their allies. Jackson moved to the breastworks and advanced the field pieces to within eight yards of the timber barricade. At 10:30 AM on March 27 the battle began. Jackson opened with grape shot from the field pieces. The small pellets from the cannon sank harmlessly into the great timbers, and the Indians set up a scornful howl. Jackson saw at once that he couldn’t effect a breach with his artillery.
As Jackson opened fire, Coffee placed 200 dismounted cavalrymen in a detachment and ordered them to cross the river to seize the Indian town. The Tennesseeans captured it and set it afire. The smoke and flames signaled to General Jackson the success of the men in the enemy’s rear. When he noticed a slackening of the gunfire near the Indian village, Jackson mistakenly thought that Coffee’s troops were hard pressed. By then it was after noon and the ineffectual bombardment of the Indian defenses had been in progress for two hours. He decided to carry the breastworks with an infantry charge.
The assault party consisted of the 39th United States Infantry under Colonel John Williams and an east Tennessee brigade under Colonel Bunch. The men moved forward steadily under a heavy fire and reached the portholes. Then at close range they returned the fire of the Indians thru the apertures while some of their companions were mounting the breastworks with their bayonets fixed. The first man to reach the top was Major Lemuel Montgomery, a soldier twenty-eight years old from east Tennessee. He waved his sword as a signal to his men to follow, but an Indian rifle ball struck him in the head and he died instantly. Jackson shed tears over this officer, characterizing him as “the flower” of his army. A county in Alabama was named Montgomery in his honor.
Another who leaped atop the wall just as Montgomery fell was Ensign Sam Houston. He was hit in the thigh by a bullet and in the body by a barbed arrow, but he went on over and pitched into the hard battle that soon raged inside. Among the infantrymen who followed, piling over the barricades with bayonets fixed, was likely Private James Shelton. The Indians fought fiercely, refusing to surrender. So many were killed here that day that after this battle the Nation of the Creeks almost ceased to exist. 557 Indian bodies were found on the peninsula besides those that were drowned or shot trying to cross the river to safety. Jackson’s losses were thirty-two killed and ninety-nine wounded. Cherokee Chief John Ross led his tribe in the fight here.
The day following the battle, Jackson marshaled his forces and moved on down the Tallapoosa. Where that river joins the Coosa to form the Alabama River, he constructed a new stronghold, Fort Jackson. The Battle of the Horseshoe ended the Creek wars. From Fort Jackson the company commanded by Captain Thomas Wilson, which included James Shelton (8), returned to Camp Strother where on May 2, 1814, James along with many other east Tennesseans were shown “on command”. He was released to civilian status on May 24.
—
James Shelton (8) died October 9, 1879 at 1:00 o’clock in the morning other records to the contrary notwithstanding. His pension papers in the National Archives show on claimant record received December 18, 1879, that he died October 8, 1879. The family Bible shows also that as the date of his death. The date shown on his gravestone is November 8, 1879, and in a statement signed by Joshua
Ellis and Sam W. Shelton on February 7, 1880, on record with James’ pension papers, they state they saw him die November 8, 1879 and say him buried the following day. The record no doubt thought to be correct when made, was given without checking the records. Following is an entry from Sam’s diary of October 9, 1879:
All night last nite watching for father to die. He died a little past 1:00 o’clock A. M. Thursday. (October 9, 1879, was a Thursday.) He died easy – I know that he is better off now. One of the greatest restraints is taken from my evil inclinations. All my father’s influence over me, and no one ever had more, was for good. One reason for my being a good man was that it pleased Father. The old man died in peace and after having lived for eighty-eight and one half years, he commenced a poor boy, worked hard and now leaves me a good fortune. He tried to rear me right. I think he did his duty by me. I cannot see where in any way he has gone wrong. I shall ever remember him with a grateful heart – I loved him much. He taught me not only by precept but by example as well. He educated me, though himself an uneducated man. I can only say with truth – and everyone who knew him can say the same – that he was thoroughly honest and truthful. He was a saving man. He never talked big about what he was worth. While his name is not known far from home, while he has done no wonderful deed to make him famous, he was never-the-less one of the nobler beings – much nobler doubtless than many whose names are known all over the globe.
Sam was 25 when the above was written.
13Posted 23 Sep 2010 by willownsrn
Notes for James & Sarah “Sallie” (Family)
early times of james and sarah hooper shelton
Posted 23 Sep 2010 by willownsrn
n a letter written some years ago a William H. Thomas from Athens, Tennessee, an old man, wrote that among those who came to the area along the river were families named Shelton, Robinson (likely Robertson too), Sharp and Graves. With James and Sarah there is an interesting tale of a romantic exploring trip down the river to the mouth of the Hiwassee on a flatboat. They had loaded all their household goods and set out to homestead in the newly opened territory. They may have come down the Nolichicky River which flows across Greene County passing near the town of Chucky, then into the French Broad and Tennessee down to the mouth of the Hiwassee. From there James (8) would have had to pole his craft upstream for some 12 miles to the site in McMinn County 6 miles below Calhoun. Here across from the Cherokee Indian Nation in Bradley County, they established the permanent homestead. In pondering this one wonders if in fact they didn’t make the trip down the Hiwassee from Ducktown since Sarah’s home was near the river. This would certainly have been much easier – perhaps just as romantic. Likely Sarah enjoyed this as she loved the river and spent much time on it in the ensuing years boating and fishing.
Following James and Sarah came Buck Lawson and his wife, said to be James’ sister, possibly Elicy. James (8) wed Buck’s sister Betsy. The McMinn County census of 1830 lists Buck as William Lawson, age between 40 and 50. His wife is shown as between 30 and 40. This would conform to one of the females in Roderick’s household in the Buncombe County census: Of 1800 as one of the females under 10; of 1810 as the one between 10 and 16; and of 1820 as the one between 16 and 26. The McMinn census of 1830 shows also a son 5 to 10 in the Lawson household. That of 1850 shows Buck in the household of James (8), but not Buck’s wife, she likely having died… This writer remembers from his youth an elderly gentleman who lived in Calhoun named Lawson (Jim, I believe) who was akin to our family and about the age of our father, Sam Shelton, born 1854, possibly the son of the lad above who by the census of 1830 was between 5 and 10 years old. James and Betsy’s daughter Naomi, who supposedly lived with the Buck Lawsons after Betsy’s death, married John Harrison Robertson, born January 21, 1801, (cemetery marker shows this as November 12), a gentleman of good repute and some renown, having been the first county court clerk of Bradley County, Tennessee, when in about 1835 the county was formed from Indian land. His progeny are listed page 54 of this book, likely descended from Henry Robertson, born about 1720, of Amelia County, Virginia, shown pages 281 and 233.
On first arriving at their homesite on the Hiwassee River, James and Sarah built a home, a long cabin. Then they built a frame dwelling which was completed in 1820. It was a two-story and stood the ravages of time for one and a quarter centuries, having then been torn down by the Tennessee Valley Authority in clearing for the Chickamauga Lake basin. It had been the first frame house to be built in the area. According to Tennessee history the first settlement in McMinn County was near Calhoun in 1819. So it is not unlikely that James and Sarah’s was the first. Through the years James (8) acquired land both sides of the river by purchase and by grant, and at hand are two documents attesting to this fact, one signed by James K. Polk, the other Newton Cannon, each as governor.
James and Sarah prospered. They acquired much land and many slaves. Their twelve children were 4 sons and 8 daughters.
Children Of James and Sarah Hooper Shelton
Nancy Shelton, born 1817
Cornelia Shelton, born May 25, 1819
William C. Shelton, born September 4, 1820
Andrew Hooper Shelton, born March 25, 1822
Caroline Shelton, born September 22, 1825
Elicy Shelton, born May 27, 1827 (Some write this Elizie)
John Ellsworth Shelton, born September 4, 1829
Jane Shelton, born December 25, 1830
Louis Shelton, born October 20, 1832
Ursula Shelton, born February 15, 1834
Elizabeth Shelton, born June 30, 1836
Catherine Shelton, born July 20, 1842
13
Posted 23 Sep 2010 by willownsrn
n a letter written some years ago a William H. Thomas from Athens, Tennessee, an old man, wrote that among those who came to the area along the river were families named Shelton, Robinson (likely Robertson too), Sharp and Graves. With James and Sarah there is an interesting tale of a romantic exploring trip down the river to the mouth of the Hiwassee on a flatboat. They had loaded all their household goods and set out to homestead in the newly opened territory. They may have come down the Nolichicky River which flows across Greene County passing near the town of Chucky, then into the French Broad and Tennessee down to the mouth of the Hiwassee. From there James (8) would have had to pole his craft upstream for some 12 miles to the site in McMinn County 6 miles below Calhoun. Here across from the Cherokee Indian Nation in Bradley County, they established the permanent homestead. In pondering this one wonders if in fact they didn’t make the trip down the Hiwassee from Ducktown since Sarah’s home was near the river. This would certainly have been much easier – perhaps just as romantic. Likely Sarah enjoyed this as she loved the river and spent much time on it in the ensuing years boating and fishing.
Following James and Sarah came Buck Lawson and his wife, said to be James’ sister, possibly Elicy. James (8) wed Buck’s sister Betsy. The McMinn County census of 1830 lists Buck as William Lawson, age between 40 and 50. His wife is shown as between 30 and 40. This would conform to one of the females in Roderick’s household in the Buncombe County census: Of 1800 as one of the females under 10; of 1810 as the one between 10 and 16; and of 1820 as the one between 16 and 26. The McMinn census of 1830 shows also a son 5 to 10 in the Lawson household. That of 1850 shows Buck in the household of James (8), but not Buck’s wife, she likely having died… This writer remembers from his youth an elderly gentleman who lived in Calhoun named Lawson (Jim, I believe) who was akin to our family and about the age of our father, Sam Shelton, born 1854, possibly the son of the lad above who by the census of 1830 was between 5 and 10 years old. James and Betsy’s daughter Naomi, who supposedly lived with the Buck Lawsons after Betsy’s death, married John Harrison Robertson, born January 21, 1801, (cemetery marker shows this as November 12), a gentleman of good repute and some renown, having been the first county court clerk of Bradley County, Tennessee, when in about 1835 the county was formed from Indian land. His progeny are listed page 54 of this book, likely descended from Henry Robertson, born about 1720, of Amelia County, Virginia, shown pages 281 and 233.
On first arriving at their homesite on the Hiwassee River, James and Sarah built a home, a long cabin. Then they built a frame dwelling which was completed in 1820. It was a two-story and stood the ravages of time for one and a quarter centuries, having then been torn down by the Tennessee Valley Authority in clearing for the Chickamauga Lake basin. It had been the first frame house to be built in the area. According to Tennessee history the first settlement in McMinn County was near Calhoun in 1819. So it is not unlikely that James and Sarah’s was the first. Through the years James (8) acquired land both sides of the river by purchase and by grant, and at hand are two documents attesting to this fact, one signed by James K. Polk, the other Newton Cannon, each as governor.
James and Sarah prospered. They acquired much land and many slaves. Their twelve children were 4 sons and 8 daughters.
Children Of James and Sarah Hooper Shelton
Nancy Shelton, born 1817
Cornelia Shelton, born May 25, 1819
William C. Shelton, born September 4, 1820
Andrew Hooper Shelton, born March 25, 1822
Caroline Shelton, born September 22, 1825
Elicy Shelton, born May 27, 1827 (Some write this Elizie)
John Ellsworth Shelton, born September 4, 1829
Jane Shelton, born December 25, 1830
Louis Shelton, born October 20, 1832
Ursula Shelton, born February 15, 1834
Elizabeth Shelton, born June 30, 1836
Catherine Shelton, born July 20, 1842
13