4-12  INTERACTIVE FAMILY HISTORIES

JOHN SHELTON (1) is the oldest known Shelton ancestor of the authors.  Two of his sons, Nathaniel Shelton (2) and William Shelton (1.5), are direct ancestors of the authors.  Nathaniel’s son, William Martin Shelton (3), married his first cousin, Martha Adeline Shelton (1.5.7), daughter of William Shelton (1.5).  The 1830 and 1840 censuses indicate that John was born between 1780 and 1790.  According to a Family Bible, John Shelton and his wife, Catherine, were married on September 15, 1805 in Hawkins County, Tennessee.  According to notes that were annotated in a book written by Pauline (Jones) Gandrud (located in the Scottsboro Public Library), John Shelton married Catherine Messer, daughter of Christian Messer.  The 1830 census indicates that Catherine was born between 1780 and 1790.  For additional information on the descendants of Christian Messer, see the sketch of Christian Messer (41).

John Shelton appeared in the Scott County, Virginia Personal Property Tax lists in the following years:  1815, 1818, 1822, 1824, 1826 and 1828.  Scott County, Virginia was formed from Washington, Russell and Lee Counties in 1814.  No Sheltons appear in the Washington County, Virginia personal property tax lists in the following years:  1782, 1783, 1784, 1786, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1809, 1810, 1811, 1812, 1814 and 1816.  On September 19, 1816, a Joseph Shelton married Polly Coles in Washington County, Virginia.  Joseph’s relationship to John Shelton, if any, is not known.  On February 12, 1827, Joseph Shelton purchased 150 acres from John Coles in Washington County, Virginia.  This land was located on on a branch of the South Fork of the Holston River, called Groses Creek.

In 1790, a Ralph Shelton was granted 200 acres of land in Hawkins County, North Carolina (later Tennessee) in land grant number 2635 on south side of High Bluff, south side of Holstein.  Ralph’s relationship to John Shelton, if any, is not known.  Ralph is probably the son of Ralph Shelton and Mary (Crispen) Shelton.  On September 6, 1790, Jesse Riggs conveyed to Polly Shelton of Hawkins County, Tennessee and State of North Carolina (now Tennessee) 245 acres, on the north side of the divide that divides French Broad River and Holston River.  Polly’s relationship to John Shelton, if any, is not known.  On December 7, 1814, John Clayton conveyed a tract of land to Hezekiah Shelton in Hawkins County, Tennessee.  Hezekiah is probably the son of Ralph Shelton and Mary (Crispen) Shelton.

From 1820 to 1830, John and Catherine Shelton were enumerated in Scott County, Virginia census.  On October 22, 1827, John Shelton was granted forty-two acres in Scott County, Virginia.  In 1832, John Shelton signed as a witness on the will of Peter Wininger in Scott County, Virginia.  In 1833, John Shelton of Scott County, Virginia sold twenty-five acres of land to David Wininger of Scott County, Virginia.  This land was originally claimed by Samuel Allsup in the Treasury Warrant Number 14129 on September 6, 1782 in what was then Washington County, Virginia.  On May 19, 1814, twenty-five acres of the original Allsup claim was assigned and granted to Solomon Potter.  This twenty-five acres was located on Opossum Creek, a branch of the north fork of the Holstein River.  Apparently, John Shelton acquired this land after 1814 and eventually sold it to David Wininger in 1833.  According to History of Jackson County, Alabama, John Shelton came from Virginia to Maynards Cove in 1830.  Since John Shelton of Scott County, Virginia sold land in 1833 in Scott County, Virginia, he probably moved to Jackson County, Alabama in 1833.  According to the Family Bible, John and Catherine Shelton were the parents of ten children:

SHELTON FAMILY HISTORY  4-13

  Nathaniel Shelton (2), b. September 15, 1806, Virginia
  Martin Shelton (1.2), b. October 31, 1807, Tennessee
  Sabra Shelton (1.3), b. January 9, 1809, Tennessee
  John Shelton, Jr. (1.4), b. July 21, 1810, Tennessee
  William Shelton (1.5), b. December 27, 1811, Virginia
  Catherine Shelton (1.6), b. October 16, 1813, Virginia
  Noah Shelton (1.7), b. January 28, 1815, Virginia
  Sarah Shelton (1.8), b. December 2, 1817, Virginia
  Elizabeth Shelton, b. September 8, 1819, Virginia
  Crissey Shelton, b. May 16, 1821, Scott County, Virginia

According to the Family Bible, Catherine (Messer) Shelton died on April 1, 1834 in Jackson County, Alabama.  The 1840 census shows that John Shelton was still living in Jackson County, Alabama.  According to the Family Bible, John Shelton (1) died on July 27, 1840 in Jackson County, Alabama.  According to the Family Bible, a John Shelton married Manurva Harper on January 21, 1836.  The Family Bible further lists a Manurva Carline Shelton that died on December 1, 1854 in Jackson County, Alabama.  These two references of Manurva are probably the same person.  It is most likely that John Shelton, Jr. married Manurva Harper prior to his marriage to Isabel Bynum.  However, there is some probability that John Shelton, Sr. married a second time to Manurva Harper.

References:  1)  1820 and 1830 Censuses, Scott County, Virginia;  2)  Deed, John Shelton to David Wininger, 1833, Scott County, Virginia;  3)  1840 Census, Jackson County, Alabama;  4)  Family Bible of John Shelton in possession of Eva (Wininger) Shelton;  5)  Notes on 1850 Census of Jackson County, Alabama copied by Pauline (Jones) Gandrud, 1953, located in Scottsboro Public Library;  6)  History of Jackson County, Alabama, Page 148;  7)  Treasury Warrant Number 14129, Samuel Allsup, Washington County, Virginia, 1782;  8)  Washington County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1782 through 1816, not all years;  9)  Scott County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1815 through 1828, not all years;  10)  Land Grant Book 66, Page 285, Solomon Potter, Washington County, Virginia, 1814;  11)  Marriage Record, Washington County, Virginia, Joseph Shelton and Polly Cross, 1816;  12)  Land Grant Book 76, Page 405, Scott County, Virginia, 1827;  13)  Partial Census of 1787 to 1791 of Tennessee as taken from North Carolina Land Grants, by Lucy Kate McGhee, Page 126;  14)  “A History of the Shelton Family,” by Mildred Whitaker, 1941, contains following references:  Deed Book 1, Page 59, Jesse Riggs to Polly Shelton, 1790, Hawkins County, North Carolina (later Tennessee);  Deed Book 3, Page 329, John Clayton to Hezekiah Shelton, 1814, Hawkins County, Tennessee;  Deed Book 9, Page 360, John Coles to Joseph Shelton, 1827, Washington County, Virginia;  Sketch of Ralph Shelton and Mary (Crispen) Sheltons children, Ralph Shelton, Hezekiah Shelton and Azariah Shelton, Pages 203 - 211


Family Bible of John and Catherine Shelton
ca. 1860
Courtesy of Eva (Wininger) Shelton
Page 1 of 3


4-14  INTERACTIVE FAMILY HISTORIES

Family Bible of John and Catherine Shelton
ca. 1860
Courtesy of Eva (Wininger) Shelton
Page 2 of 3


Family Bible of John and Catherine Shelton
ca. 1860
Courtesy of Eva (Wininger) Shelton
Page 3 of 3


MARTIN SHELTON (1.2) is the son of John Shelton and Catherine (Messer) Shelton.  Martin was born on October 31, 1807 in Tennessee.  On June 24, 1830, Martin Shelton married Ann Wininger (32.8).  Ann was born in 1812 in Virginia and is the daughter of David Wininger and Martha Wininger.  Martin and Ann Shelton were the parents of at least ten children:

  Daughter, b. 1830 - 1835
  John W. Shelton (1.2.2), b. 1831, Virginia
  Martha A. Shelton (1.2.3), b. March, 1836, Jackson County, Alabama
  David Shelton (1.2.4), b. March 27, 1838, Jackson County, Alabama
  William Barker Shelton (1.2.5), b. 1843, Scott County, Virginia
  James S. Shelton, b. 1849, Scott County, Virginia
  Samuel Shelton (1.2.7), b. June 23, 1849, Scott County, Virginia
  Andrew Shelton (1.2.8), b. September 4, 1851, Scott County, Virginia
  Elizabeth Catherine Shelton, b. December 6, 1854, Scott County, Virginia
  Emily C. Shelton (1.2.10), b. November 4, 1857, Scott County, Virginia

According to various censuses, Martin was living in Virginia in 1831, in Alabama from 1836 to 1840 and back in Virginia in 1843.  In 1840, Martin Shelton was living in Jackson County, Alabama.  From 1850 to 1880, Martin and Ann Shelton were living in Scott County, Virginia.  Martin Shelton died on April 21, 1881 in Scott County, Virginia and was buried there in the Wininger Cemetery.

James Shelton served in Confederate Army, 64th Mounted Infantry, Company D.  James Shelton died as a prisoner of war at Camp Douglas in Chicago, Illinois on January 20, 1864.  James Shelton was buried where many other Confederate soldiers were buried at the Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.  In 1880, Elizabeth Shelton was still living with her parents.  In 1900, Elizabeth Shelton was living with her brother, Samuel Shelton, in Scott County, Virginia.  Elizabeth Shelton died between 1902 and 1904 in Scott County, Virginia and was buried in the Jones/Bellamy Cemetery near Gate City, Virginia.

References:  1)  1840 Census, Jackson County, Alabama;  2)  1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1900 Censuses, Scott County, Virginia;  3)  Family Bible of John Shelton in possession of Eva (Wininger) Shelton;  4)  “Scott County, Virginia Cemetery Records,” Volume 2, Page 155, 1981;  5)  Letter, Phil Shelton to Robert Casey, June 3, 1985;  6)  Shelton History, by William C. Shelton, 1985;  7)  Confederate P. O. W.s, by Frances Ingmire and Carolyn Ericson, 1984


SHELTON FAMILY HISTORY  4-15

Tombstone of Martin Shelton
Photo Taken 1986
Harold Casey Collection


JOHN W. SHELTON (1.2.2) is the son of Martin Shelton and Ann (Wininger) Shelton.  John was born in 1831 in Virginia.  On March 16, 1852, John Shelton married Mary A. Barrat (born 1830 in Virginia) in Scott County, Virginia.  John and Mary Shelton were the parents of at least five children:

  Sarah E. Shelton, b. 1854, Scott County, Virginia
  William J. Shelton, b. 1855, Scott County, Virginia
  Lucinda Shelton, b. 1856, Scott County, Virginia
  Martha R. E. Shelton (1.2.2.4), b. 1858, Scott County, Virginia
  Nancy Jane Shelton (1.2.2.5), b. August 13, 1859, Scott County, Virginia

In 1860, John and Mary Shelton were living in Scott County, Virginia.

References:  1)  Marriage Record, Scott County, Virginia, 1852;  2)  1860 Census, Scott County, Virginia

MARTHA R. E. SHELTON (1.2.2.4) is the daughter of John W. Shelton and Mary A. (Barrat) Shelton.  Martha was born in 1858 in Scott County, Virginia.  On January 16, 1876, Martha Shelton married Ira Augustus Blessing in Scott County, Virginia.  Ira was born on August 28, 1852 in Scott County, Virginia and is the son of Joseph Blessing and Arlena (Chapman) Blessing.  Ira’s sister, Manerva Blessing, married James P. Bellomy (14.3.4.1).  Ira and Martha Blessing were the parents of at least one daughter:

  Manerva B. Blessing, b. 1878, Scott County, Virginia

In 1880, Ira and Martha Blessing were living in Scott County, Virginia.

References:  1)  Marriage Record, Scott County, Virginia, 1876;  2)  1880 Census, Scott County, Virginia;  3)  Letter, Hugh W. Blessing to Robert Casey, August 3, 1987

NANCY JANE SHELTON (1.2.2.5) is the daughter of John W. Shelton and Mary A. (Barrat) Shelton.  Nancy was born on August 13, 1859 in Scott County, Virginia.  On February 14, 1879, Nancy Shelton married Wylie Preston Dills in Scott County, Virginia.  Wylie was born on July 5, 1855 in Scott County, Virginia and is the son of Robert Brise Dills and Amanda C. (Newland) Dills.  Wylie and Nancy Dills were the parents of four children:

  Amanda Myrtle Dills (1.2.2.5.1), b. August 25, 1890, Scott County, Virginia
  Annie Lee Dills
  Bettie S. Dills, b. 1889
  Florence Dills, b. 1895

Wylie Dills died in 1927 in Scott County, Virginia and Nancy (Shelton) Dills died in 1937 in Scott County, Virginia.  Both were buried in the Dills Cemetery in Scott County, Virginia.  Florence Dills married a Mr. Bowens and they had at least two children:  -  James B. Bowens, b. October 25, 1919,  -  Beril R. Bowens, b. January 1, 1923.  Florence (Dills) Bowens died on November 22, 1932 and was buried in the Dills Cemetery in Scott County, Virginia.  James B. Bowens died as an infant on January 5, 1920 and was buried in the Dills Cemetery in Scott County, Virginia.  Beril R. Bowens died as an infant on December 2, 1923 and was buried in the Dills Cemetery in Scott County, Virginia.

4-16  INTERACTIVE FAMILY HISTORIES

References:  1)  “World Family Tree,” Volume 3, File 3905;  2)  “Scott County, Virginia Cemetery Records,” (Dills Cemetery), Volume 2, Page 82, 1981

AMANDA MYRTLE DILLS (1.2.2.5.1) is the daughter of Wylie Preston Dills and Nancy Jane (Shelton) Dills.  Amanda was born on August 25, 1890 in Scott County, Virginia.  On December 24, 1912, Amanda Dills married Berley F. Lynch in Scott County, Virginia.  Berley was born on October 14, 1888 in Scott County, Virginia and is the son of Thomas J. Lynch and Nancy Ann (Arnold) Lynch.  Berley and Amanda Lynch were the parents of three children:

  Blanche Lynch
  Roy Lynch
  George Edward Lynch, b. July 28, 1921

Amanda (Dills) Lynch died on March 12, 1957 in Kingsport, Tennessee and Berley Lynch died on March 22, 1961 in Scott County, Virginia.  Roy Lynch married Mary Ruth McAmis.  Mary is the daughter of George Roy McAmis and Bertha Lydia (Lane) McAmis.  Roy and Mary Lynch have three children:  -  George Edward Lynch,  -  Roy Lynch, Jr.,  -  Donna Marie Lynch.  Roy Lynch, Jr. married Joan Lorraine Joyce and they have one son:  -  Kevin Roy Lynch.  Donna Lynch married Garry Lee Cole and they have one son  -  James Mason Cole.  George E. Lynch (born 1921) died on March 14, 1982.

References:  1)  “World Family Tree,” Volume 3, File 3905;  2)  Scott County, Virginia Cemetery Records (Dills Cemetery), Volume 2, Page 82, 1981

MARTHA A. SHELTON (1.2.3) is the daughter of Martin Shelton and Ann (Wininger) Shelton.  Martha was born in March of 1836 in Jackson County, Alabama.  Martha was the mother of two children who took the name of Shelton:

  James Shelton, b. 1866, Virginia
  William N. Shelton (1.2.3.2), b. December 10, 1867, Virginia

In 1870, Martha and her two sons were living with Marthas parents, Martin and Ann Shelton, in Scott County, Virginia.  In 1880, Martha and her two sons were still living in Scott County, Virginia.  In 1900, Martha Shelton was living with her son, William N. Shelton, in Scott County, Virginia.

References:  1)  1870, 1880 and 1900 Censuses, Scott County, Virginia;  2)  Letter, Mildred (Horton) Street to Robert Casey, December, 1987

WILLIAM N. SHELTON (1.2.3.2) is the son of Martha A. Shelton.  William was born on December 10, 1867 in Virginia.  On March 28, 1894, William N. Shelton married M. A. C. Nealie Fletcher in Scott County, Virginia.  M. A. C. was born on May 10, 1879 in Scott County, Virginia and is the daughter of J. T. Fletcher and M. E. Fletcher.  William and M. A. C. Shelton were the parents of three children:

SHELTON FAMILY HISTORY  4-17

  Anna Bell Shelton, b. January, 1895, Scott County, Virginia
  Esther N. Shelton, b. April, 1898, Scott County, Virginia
  James William Shelton, b. 1901, Scott County, Virginia

In 1900, William and M. A. C. Shelton were living in Scott County, Virginia.  M. A. C. (Fletcher) Shelton died on May 26, 1904 and was buried in the Wininger Cemetery in Scott County, Virginia.  From 1910 to 1920, William N. Shelton was still living with his children in Scott County, Virginia.  William N. Shelton died on October 13, 1931 and was buried in the Wininger Cemetery in Scott County, Virginia.

Anna Bell Shelton married a Mr. Jones.  As of 1932, Anna Bell (Shelton) Jones was living in Indianapolis, Indiana.  On June 5, 1921, Esther Shelton married James A. France in Scott County, Virginia.  James was born in 1897 in Scott County, Virginia and is the son of J. M. France and C. A. France.  James and Esther France have at least one son:  -  Lawrence France.  Lawrence France married Hester Natileen Blessing (32.1.5.5.2.2).  Hester is the daughter of Loranza Dow Blessing and Hester (Davidson) Blessing.  Lawrence and Hester France have one son:  -  Timothy Lawrence France, b. 1963.  On December 18, 1926, James W. Shelton married Hannah L. Pendleton in Scott County, Virginia.  Hannah was born in 1905 in Scott County, Virginia and is the daughter of D. A. Pendleton.  On April 8, 1943, James W. Shelton married a second time to Nell Castle in Scott County, Virginia.  Nell was born in 1918 and is the daughter of Joe Castle and Gladys (Bright) Castle.

References:  1)  1900, 1910 and 1920 Censuses, Scott County, Virginia;  2)  Marriage Licenses, Scott County, Virginia, 1894, 1921 and 1926;  3)  Will Book 21, Page 310, Scott County, Virginia, 1932;  4)  “Scott County, Virginia Cemetery Records,” Volume 2, Page 155, 1981;  5)  Letter, Mildred (Horton) Street to Robert Casey, December, 1987

DAVID SHELTON (1.2.4) is the son of Martin Shelton and Ann (Wininger) Shelton.  David was born on March 27, 1838 in Jackson County, Alabama.  On July 27, 1859, David Shelton married Irene Epperson in Hawkins County, Tennessee.  Irene was born on April 1, 1840 in Scott County, Virginia and is the daughter of Stephen Epperson and Elizabeth (Wolfe) Epperson.  David and Irene Shelton were the parents of eight children:

  William Barker Shelton (1.2.4.1), b. May 5, 1860, Scott County, Virginia
  John Wolfe Shelton, b. February 3, 1862, Scott County, Virginia
  James Logan Shelton (1.2.4.3), b. April 26, 1864, Scott County, Virginia
  Son, b. September 9, 1868, Scott County, Virginia
  Elizabeth Ann Shelton (1.2.4.5), b. September 16, 1869, Scott County, Virginia
  Stephen Martin Shelton (1.2.4.6), b. December 6, 1872, Scott County, Virginia
  Robert A. D. Shelton (1.2.4.7), b. August 14, 1876, Scott County, Virginia
  Henry Clinton Shelton (1.2.4.8), b. March 11, 1881, Scott County, Virginia

4-18  INTERACTIVE FAMILY HISTORIES

On March 15, 1862, David Shelton enlisted in the Confederate Army and was paid a bounty of $50.00 for enlisting for three years.  David served as a private in Company H, Forty-eighth Virginia Infantry and in 1863 was listed as absent at home wounded.  From 1860 to 1880, David and Irene Shelton were living in Scott County, Virginia.  David operated a store in Gate City, Virginia.  David Shelton died on July 5, 1897 in Scott County, Virginia and was buried there in the Wininger Cemetery.  In 1900, Irene (Epperson) Shelton was living with her son, Robert, in Scott County, Virginia.  Irene (Epperson) Shelton died on December 6, 1922 in Wise County, Virginia and was buried in the Wininger Cemetery in Scott County, Virginia.


Irene (Epperson) Shelton, wife of David Shelton
ca. 1910
Courtesy of William C. Shelton, Sr.


John W. Shelton never married.  John Shelton died on December 30, 1886 in Scott County, Virginia.  David and Irene Sheltons son (b. 1868) died the same month that he was born on September 26, 1868 in Scott County, Virginia.

References:  1)  1860, 1870, 1880 and 1900 Censuses, Scott County, Virginia;  2)  Muster Rolls, Confederate Army, 1862 - 1864;  3)  “American Origins,” by David B. Trimble, Pages 281 and 282, 1974;  4)  Letter, Phil Shelton to Robert Casey, June 3, 1985;  5)  Shelton History, by William C. Shelton, 1985