Stephen SHELTON
M, b. 12 September 1797, d. 18 February 1860
- Relationship
- 3rd great-grandfather of John Kennedy BROWN Jr.
- Charts
- Author's Pedigree Chart
Stephen SHELTON, son of Burrell SHELTON and Ann Lane, was born on 12 September 1797 in Halifax County, North Carolina.
Stephen SHELTON appeared on a census, enumerated 1 August 1800, in the household of Burrell SHELTON and Ann Lane in Halifax, Halifax County, North Carolina.1
Stephen SHELTON appeared on a census, enumerated 1 August 1810, in the household of Willis SHELTON in Halifax County, North Carolina. Willis, Stephen's uncle, took him in after the deaths of his parents.2 In 1814 their uncle, Willis SHELTON, was named legal guardian in Halifax County of Stephen SHELTON, Ladimon SHELTON, Mary SHELTON, William SHELTON and Willis SHELTON following the death of their parents.
In October 1814 Stephen SHELTON received a 30 acres lot of land from the probate of the estate of Burrell SHELTON in Anson County, North Carolina. He drew Lot 3 of the land divided amongst the children of the deceased.3
On 20 February 1818 Stephen SHELTON, Ladimon SHELTON, William Wooten and Martha SHELTON, his wife, all of Halifax County sold to George Threadgill in Anson County, North Carolina, ninety acres of land (being lots 1, 2 and 3 listed above).4
In 1820 Stephen SHELTON and Ladimon SHELTON were included on a tax list in Halifax County, North Carolina.5
Stephen married Martha GRAVES, daughter of William GRAVES and Sarah SMITH, on 17 May 1822 in Autauga County, Alabama.
Stephen purchased a government land patent 22 April 1825 in Autauga County, Alabama. He patented 79.92 acres in the East 1/2 of the Northeast 1/4 of section 23, township 16N, range 15E. The land was located near the Alabama River about four miles southwest of Washington and three miles south of Wadsworth.6 Stephen sold a tract of land to James Howard and William D. Pickett on 14 October 1828 in Autauga County, Alabama. The three plats consisted of 80 acres in east half of southwest quarter of section 19, township 18, range 15; 153 acres in southwest quarter of section 13, township 16, range 15; and 80 acres in east half of northeast quarter of section 23, township 16, range 15.7
Stephen SHELTON was a member of Autauga Masonic Lodge 31 between 1829 and 1831 in Autauga County, Alabama.8 He bought land from Isaac R. and Catherine Price on 10 April 1830 in Vernon, Autauga County, Alabama. For $700 he bought a Negro woman, Mindy, age 30 and a one half acre parcel of land formerly known as J. H. Coolidge's lot. Stephen acted as security for J. H. Coolidge and Co.9
Stephen SHELTON appeared on the 1830 Federal Census of Capt. Franklin's District, Autauga County, Alabama, 1 male 5-9 [Burrell Willis], 1 male 20-29 [his brother Willis Shelton], 1 male 30-39 [Stephen], 2 females under 5 [Sarah, Martha], and 1 female 20-29 [Martha]. They had 26 slaves.10
William GRAVES, Sarah GRAVES, Charles GRAVES, Mrs. Louisa Jane GRAVES and Martha SHELTON, John M. McLeans and Elizabeth McLeans sold a tract of land to James Huie on 5 December 1832 in Autauga County. The deed proclaimed that John M. McLeans and Elizabeth McLeans, his wife, and Charles Graves and Louisa, his wife, and William Graves and Sarah, his wife, and Stephen Shelton and Martha, his wife, for $2100 paid by James Huie sold him the east half of fractional section 24 on the Alabama River, township 16, range 15, being the land where Stephen Shelton now lives, except for the part of the said fractional section as lies on the south side of Long Pond, also part of the said fractional section 24 lying in the North half of said fractional section and on the sorth side from the middle of the Long Pond being part of the section in the possession of William Graves and afterwasrds in the possession of Stephen Shelton, containing 303 acres. Signed by Charles Graves, Louisa J. Graves, Stephne Shelton, Martha Shelton, William Graves, Sarah Graves, John M. McLean and Elizabeth McLean.11
Stephen purchased a government land patent 26 April 1833 in Autauga County, Alabama. He purchased 80 acres from the Cahaba Land Office consisting of east half of northeast quarter of section 23, township 16, range 15. The patent was signed by President John Quincy Adams.12 He and Martha GRAVES sold a tract of land to James Huie on 27 April 1833 in Autauga County, Alabama. They sold him 80 acres consisting of east half of northeast quarter of section 23, township 16, range 15 for $560.13
Stephen SHELTON purchased a government land patent 7 June 1833 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama. He purchased 39.33 acres of the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 5 of township 17, range 16E. This would have been located on Upper Kingston Road about the present location of the entrance to Melmar Drive..14
Stephen purchased a government land patent 19 September 1835 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama. This patent was for 40 acres in Northeast 1/4 of Southwest 1/4 of section 5, township 17N, range 16E. It was located just north of Prattville on Upper Kingston Road, in the area of present day Wilderness Park.15 He bought land from Robert Stewart on 20 April 1836 in Autauga County, Alabama. He paid $450 for 80 acres in the south half of the northeast quarter of section 17, township 17, range 16 on Autauga Creek.16 Stephen bought land from Sheriff A. Sample on 18 April 1840 in Autauga County, Alabama. The land formally belonged to Travis Harris and contained 80 acres of west half of northeast quarter of section 4, township 17, range 15.17
Stephen SHELTON appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of Autauga County, Alabama, 2 males under5 [William, David], 1 male 5-10 [Stephen F.], 1 male 10-15 [Burrell], 1 male 30-40 [Stephen], 1 female under 5 [Josephine], 1 female 5-10 [Louisa], 2 females 10-15 [Martha, Sarah], and 1 female 20-30 [Martha Graves]. They had 25 slaves.18
Stephen SHELTON learned of the death at school of his 15-year-old daughter, Martha, on 9 August 1844 in Tuskegee. Her school master, J. H. Lloyd, wrote a letter to her father on August 10th discribing her illness and death: "... in one hour after [2:00 PM], a most remarkable and sudden change came over her and although but a few hours before she had been laughing and joking with some of the schoolmasters she began to sink in a very rapid manner, the Doctors did all in their power to arrest the progress of disease, but all was unavailing and your poor daughter finally sank to her everlasting rest, at 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon. It would be useless for me to attempt to offer consolation to a parent under such awfully melancholy a circumstance. I know what such a bereavement is and that there is but one source to which we can look for consolation, yet, it may be a subject of future solace to know that your daughter’s amiable deportment had endeared her to all, teachers and schoolmates, and although she has left us when far away from those most dear to her, and who were ever present in her thoughts, yet I would assure them that with the exception of their of their personal presence she had every attention that could be given to her."19,20
Stephen SHELTON was appointed by the commisisioners court overseer of the Rocky Mount Road in beat 5 from the head of the hollow near Brevards to near Bridge Creek Road in February 1847. Rocky Mount Road ran from Rocky Mount probably along the path of present Old Farm Road and Old Ridge Road to Bridge Creek.21
Stephen was on a jury to establish and make public the road leading from Prattville intersecting the road leading from Rocky Mount to Kingston near Malcolm Smith's old mill on Pinesy Wood Creek on 30 July 1847.22,23
In January 1848 Stephen sold his plantation house on upper Northington Street in Prattville to Amos Smith. Mr. Smith, who worked for Daniel Pratt Gin Company, was the man who suggested "Prattville" as the name for the infant town. The place, known as "Mt. Airy", had recently been struck by a tornado and was in need of extensive repairs and additions. The Smith family moved into the lovely home on 28 December 1848.24
Stephen SHELTON and Martha GRAVES moved from Alabama to Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, in late 1848. He and Martha GRAVES appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1850 in Wards 3 and 4, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana. The household was listed as Stephen Shelton, 53, farmer, born North Carolina; Martha Shelton, 45, born Georgia; William Shelton, 15; David Shelton, 13; Josephine Shelton, 11; Autauga Shelton, 9; Augusta Shelton, 6; and Laura Shelton, 3. All of the children were born in Alabama. Also in the household were Levi Presley, age 28, and Louisa [Shelton] Presley, age 18. Levi was a Protestant-Methodist preacher. He was born in South Carolina and Louisa in Alabama.25
Stephen purchased a government land patent 7 December 1859 in Bastrop, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana. He patented four parcels of land totalling 190 acres. These included west 1/2 of northwest 1/4, the southeast 1/4 of northwest 1/4, and the northwest 1/4 of southwest 1/4 of section 7, township 20N, range 6E. The fourth parcel was the northeast 1/4 of the southeast 1/4 of section 12, township 21N, range 5E.26 He witnessed the land patent of Martha GRAVES on 7 December 1859 in Bastrop, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana.27
Stephen SHELTON died on 18 February 1860 in Bastrop, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, at age 62. According to the 1860 Mortality Schedule the cause of death was "Dropsy", which is congestive heart failure. His funeral notice read: "Died at his residence on the morning of the 13th instant, at 6 o'clock, A. M., Stephen Shelton, in the 64th year of his age. The friends and acquaintances of the family are requested to attend the funeral at his late residence tommorrow evening at half past 2 o'clock. Funeral sermon by the Rev. J. L. Wright, Bastrop, February 18, 1860." He was buried in "Old" Cemetery, Bastrop, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana.28
Stephen SHELTON appeared on a census, enumerated 1 August 1800, in the household of Burrell SHELTON and Ann Lane in Halifax, Halifax County, North Carolina.1
Stephen SHELTON appeared on a census, enumerated 1 August 1810, in the household of Willis SHELTON in Halifax County, North Carolina. Willis, Stephen's uncle, took him in after the deaths of his parents.2 In 1814 their uncle, Willis SHELTON, was named legal guardian in Halifax County of Stephen SHELTON, Ladimon SHELTON, Mary SHELTON, William SHELTON and Willis SHELTON following the death of their parents.
In October 1814 Stephen SHELTON received a 30 acres lot of land from the probate of the estate of Burrell SHELTON in Anson County, North Carolina. He drew Lot 3 of the land divided amongst the children of the deceased.3
On 20 February 1818 Stephen SHELTON, Ladimon SHELTON, William Wooten and Martha SHELTON, his wife, all of Halifax County sold to George Threadgill in Anson County, North Carolina, ninety acres of land (being lots 1, 2 and 3 listed above).4
In 1820 Stephen SHELTON and Ladimon SHELTON were included on a tax list in Halifax County, North Carolina.5
Stephen married Martha GRAVES, daughter of William GRAVES and Sarah SMITH, on 17 May 1822 in Autauga County, Alabama.
Stephen purchased a government land patent 22 April 1825 in Autauga County, Alabama. He patented 79.92 acres in the East 1/2 of the Northeast 1/4 of section 23, township 16N, range 15E. The land was located near the Alabama River about four miles southwest of Washington and three miles south of Wadsworth.6 Stephen sold a tract of land to James Howard and William D. Pickett on 14 October 1828 in Autauga County, Alabama. The three plats consisted of 80 acres in east half of southwest quarter of section 19, township 18, range 15; 153 acres in southwest quarter of section 13, township 16, range 15; and 80 acres in east half of northeast quarter of section 23, township 16, range 15.7
Stephen SHELTON was a member of Autauga Masonic Lodge 31 between 1829 and 1831 in Autauga County, Alabama.8 He bought land from Isaac R. and Catherine Price on 10 April 1830 in Vernon, Autauga County, Alabama. For $700 he bought a Negro woman, Mindy, age 30 and a one half acre parcel of land formerly known as J. H. Coolidge's lot. Stephen acted as security for J. H. Coolidge and Co.9
Stephen SHELTON appeared on the 1830 Federal Census of Capt. Franklin's District, Autauga County, Alabama, 1 male 5-9 [Burrell Willis], 1 male 20-29 [his brother Willis Shelton], 1 male 30-39 [Stephen], 2 females under 5 [Sarah, Martha], and 1 female 20-29 [Martha]. They had 26 slaves.10
William GRAVES, Sarah GRAVES, Charles GRAVES, Mrs. Louisa Jane GRAVES and Martha SHELTON, John M. McLeans and Elizabeth McLeans sold a tract of land to James Huie on 5 December 1832 in Autauga County. The deed proclaimed that John M. McLeans and Elizabeth McLeans, his wife, and Charles Graves and Louisa, his wife, and William Graves and Sarah, his wife, and Stephen Shelton and Martha, his wife, for $2100 paid by James Huie sold him the east half of fractional section 24 on the Alabama River, township 16, range 15, being the land where Stephen Shelton now lives, except for the part of the said fractional section as lies on the south side of Long Pond, also part of the said fractional section 24 lying in the North half of said fractional section and on the sorth side from the middle of the Long Pond being part of the section in the possession of William Graves and afterwasrds in the possession of Stephen Shelton, containing 303 acres. Signed by Charles Graves, Louisa J. Graves, Stephne Shelton, Martha Shelton, William Graves, Sarah Graves, John M. McLean and Elizabeth McLean.11
Stephen purchased a government land patent 26 April 1833 in Autauga County, Alabama. He purchased 80 acres from the Cahaba Land Office consisting of east half of northeast quarter of section 23, township 16, range 15. The patent was signed by President John Quincy Adams.12 He and Martha GRAVES sold a tract of land to James Huie on 27 April 1833 in Autauga County, Alabama. They sold him 80 acres consisting of east half of northeast quarter of section 23, township 16, range 15 for $560.13
Stephen SHELTON purchased a government land patent 7 June 1833 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama. He purchased 39.33 acres of the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 5 of township 17, range 16E. This would have been located on Upper Kingston Road about the present location of the entrance to Melmar Drive..14
Stephen purchased a government land patent 19 September 1835 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama. This patent was for 40 acres in Northeast 1/4 of Southwest 1/4 of section 5, township 17N, range 16E. It was located just north of Prattville on Upper Kingston Road, in the area of present day Wilderness Park.15 He bought land from Robert Stewart on 20 April 1836 in Autauga County, Alabama. He paid $450 for 80 acres in the south half of the northeast quarter of section 17, township 17, range 16 on Autauga Creek.16 Stephen bought land from Sheriff A. Sample on 18 April 1840 in Autauga County, Alabama. The land formally belonged to Travis Harris and contained 80 acres of west half of northeast quarter of section 4, township 17, range 15.17
Stephen SHELTON appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of Autauga County, Alabama, 2 males under5 [William, David], 1 male 5-10 [Stephen F.], 1 male 10-15 [Burrell], 1 male 30-40 [Stephen], 1 female under 5 [Josephine], 1 female 5-10 [Louisa], 2 females 10-15 [Martha, Sarah], and 1 female 20-30 [Martha Graves]. They had 25 slaves.18
Stephen SHELTON learned of the death at school of his 15-year-old daughter, Martha, on 9 August 1844 in Tuskegee. Her school master, J. H. Lloyd, wrote a letter to her father on August 10th discribing her illness and death: "... in one hour after [2:00 PM], a most remarkable and sudden change came over her and although but a few hours before she had been laughing and joking with some of the schoolmasters she began to sink in a very rapid manner, the Doctors did all in their power to arrest the progress of disease, but all was unavailing and your poor daughter finally sank to her everlasting rest, at 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon. It would be useless for me to attempt to offer consolation to a parent under such awfully melancholy a circumstance. I know what such a bereavement is and that there is but one source to which we can look for consolation, yet, it may be a subject of future solace to know that your daughter’s amiable deportment had endeared her to all, teachers and schoolmates, and although she has left us when far away from those most dear to her, and who were ever present in her thoughts, yet I would assure them that with the exception of their of their personal presence she had every attention that could be given to her."19,20
Stephen SHELTON was appointed by the commisisioners court overseer of the Rocky Mount Road in beat 5 from the head of the hollow near Brevards to near Bridge Creek Road in February 1847. Rocky Mount Road ran from Rocky Mount probably along the path of present Old Farm Road and Old Ridge Road to Bridge Creek.21
Stephen was on a jury to establish and make public the road leading from Prattville intersecting the road leading from Rocky Mount to Kingston near Malcolm Smith's old mill on Pinesy Wood Creek on 30 July 1847.22,23
In January 1848 Stephen sold his plantation house on upper Northington Street in Prattville to Amos Smith. Mr. Smith, who worked for Daniel Pratt Gin Company, was the man who suggested "Prattville" as the name for the infant town. The place, known as "Mt. Airy", had recently been struck by a tornado and was in need of extensive repairs and additions. The Smith family moved into the lovely home on 28 December 1848.24
Stephen SHELTON and Martha GRAVES moved from Alabama to Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, in late 1848. He and Martha GRAVES appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1850 in Wards 3 and 4, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana. The household was listed as Stephen Shelton, 53, farmer, born North Carolina; Martha Shelton, 45, born Georgia; William Shelton, 15; David Shelton, 13; Josephine Shelton, 11; Autauga Shelton, 9; Augusta Shelton, 6; and Laura Shelton, 3. All of the children were born in Alabama. Also in the household were Levi Presley, age 28, and Louisa [Shelton] Presley, age 18. Levi was a Protestant-Methodist preacher. He was born in South Carolina and Louisa in Alabama.25
Stephen purchased a government land patent 7 December 1859 in Bastrop, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana. He patented four parcels of land totalling 190 acres. These included west 1/2 of northwest 1/4, the southeast 1/4 of northwest 1/4, and the northwest 1/4 of southwest 1/4 of section 7, township 20N, range 6E. The fourth parcel was the northeast 1/4 of the southeast 1/4 of section 12, township 21N, range 5E.26 He witnessed the land patent of Martha GRAVES on 7 December 1859 in Bastrop, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana.27
Stephen SHELTON died on 18 February 1860 in Bastrop, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, at age 62. According to the 1860 Mortality Schedule the cause of death was "Dropsy", which is congestive heart failure. His funeral notice read: "Died at his residence on the morning of the 13th instant, at 6 o'clock, A. M., Stephen Shelton, in the 64th year of his age. The friends and acquaintances of the family are requested to attend the funeral at his late residence tommorrow evening at half past 2 o'clock. Funeral sermon by the Rev. J. L. Wright, Bastrop, February 18, 1860." He was buried in "Old" Cemetery, Bastrop, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana.28
Last Edited=17 Jan 2024
Children of Stephen SHELTON and Martha GRAVES
- Nancy SHELTON19 b. 4 Apr 1823, d. 7 Apr 1823
- Burrell Willis SHELTON19 b. 3 Sep 1824, d. 1862
- Sarah Virginia SHELTON+ b. 7 Mar 1827, d. 20 Sep 1874
- Martha D. SHELTON19 b. 11 Apr 1829, d. 9 Aug 1844
- Stephen Francis SHELTON19 b. 2 Mar 1831, d. 30 Aug 1865
- Louisa SHELTON19 b. 4 Nov 1833, d. 1 Feb 1905
- William Graves SHELTON19 b. 4 Feb 1835, d. 23 Apr 1921
- David SHELTON19 b. 27 Dec 1836, d. 16 Sep 1905
- Josephine SHELTON19 b. 14 Mar 1839, d. 1 Sep 1858
- Autauga SHELTON19 b. 22 Aug 1841, d. 26 Nov 1860
- Augusta SHELTON19 b. 20 Mar 1844, d. 5 Jul 1904
- Laura Georgia SHELTON29 b. 20 Sep 1847, d. 16 Jul 1915
Citations
- [S413] 1800 U. S. Census, Halifax County, North Carolina, Burwell Shelton household, pg. 342.
- [S414] 1810 U. S. Census, Halifax County, North Carolina, Willis Shelton household, pg. 118.
- [S684] Sheila Gibson, "Burrell Shelton Lineage," e-mail to John K. Brown, 28 Feb 2008.
- [S686] Sheila Gibson, "Burrell & Stephen," listserve message 20 Feb 2004, source: Anson Deed Book L, pg. 191.
- [S684] Sheila Gibson, "Burrell Shelton Lineage," e-mail to John K. Brown, 18 Mar 2008.
- [S232] Bureau of Land Management, online http://www.glorecords.blm.gov, Stephen Shelton #AL0150__.129 (Cahaba Land Office).
- [S307] Autauga County Deeds: Book C, pg. 17.
- [S325] Autauga Webpage, online https://sites.rootsweb.com/~alautaug/, Masonic Records- Autauga Lodge 31, 1829-1830 and 1830-1831.
- [S307] Autauga County Deeds: Book C, pg. 198.
- [S13] 1830 U. S. Census, Autauga County, Alabama, S. Shelton household, pg. 152.
- [S857] Autauga County Deeds and Mortgages, Book D, Volume 4-B: Book C, page 505.
- [S307] Autauga County Deeds: Book C, pg. 500.
- [S307] Autauga County Deeds: Book C, pg. 503.
- [S232] Bureau of Land Management, online http://www.glorecords.blm.gov, Cahaba Land Office, document #15290.
- [S232] Bureau of Land Management, online http://www.glorecords.blm.gov, Stephen Shelton #AL0730__.211 (Cahaba Land Office).
- [S307] Autauga County Deeds: Book D, pg. 473.
- [S307] Autauga County Deeds: Book DC, pg. 433.
- [S252] 1840 U. S. Census, Autauga County, Alabama, Stephen Shelton, pg. 9.
- [S72] Abney Hintgen Brewer. "Abney Family History", (Unpublished manuscript), 1993 Author's Personal Collection.
- [S650] Letter, J. H. Lloyd to Stephen Shelton, 10 August 1844, The letter was hand delivered to Stephen in Montgomery while on his way to Tuskegee.
- [S308] Commissioners Court Minutes: Book 1 1842-1853, pg. 118.
- [S199] Abney Hintgen Brewer, "Abney Research," e-mail to John K. Brown, 26 Jun 1999.
- [S308] Commissioners Court Minutes.
- [S306] Louise Taylor Nelson Boal, Amos Smith, pg. 2.
- [S309] 1850 U. S. Census, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, Stephen Shelton household #364, Ward 3, pg. 407.
- [S232] Bureau of Land Management, online http://www.glorecords.blm.gov, Stephen Shelton #LA1200__.004 (Monroe Land Office).
- [S232] Bureau of Land Management, online http://www.glorecords.blm.gov, Martha Shelton #LA1190__.433 (Monroe Land Office).
- [S199] Abney Hintgen Brewer, "Abney Research," e-mail to John K. Brown, 26 June 1999.
- [S300] William D. Pressley, "Stephen Shelton Family," e-mail to John K. Brown, 5 July 1998.
Information on this site has been gathered over many years from many sources. Although great care has been taken, inaccuracies may exist. Please contact [email protected] with corrections or questions..