Martha SHELTON

F, b. circa 1789
Relationship
3rd great-grandaunt of John Kennedy BROWN Jr.
     Martha SHELTON, daughter of Burrell SHELTON and Ann Lane, was born circa 1789 in Halifax County, North Carolina.

Martha SHELTON was named an heir in the will of David Lane dated on 12 April 1789 in Halifax County, North Carolina. It was probated August 1790 and David decreed: "I lend to my daughter, Anne Shelton, the 729 acres of land whereon she now lives, during the full term of her natural life, and at her decease to descend to the first male child lawfully begotten of her body; but if my said daughter die without such male heir of her body, then the said land to belong to the present daughter, Martha Shelton, to her and her heirs forever."

Ann had several male children after the death of her father, however her firstborn male child died in infancy. This resulted in some confusion as to the lawful heir of David Lane's land and a lawsuit was brought before the North Carolina Supreme Court in 1811 by David and Martha Wootten against Willis Shelton. Part of the verdict read: "That the said will was afterwards duly proven; that the said Anne Shelton had several male children after the death of [her father]; that the eldest one lived two or three years, and then died in the lifetime of said Anne, living the said Martha, who afterwards intermarried with William Wootten; and they two are the lessors of the plaintiff. That the other male children, five in number, survived the said Anne, the eldest of which afterwards died an infant, and unmarried before the bringing of this suit, and before the act of 1795, letting in females equally with males. That the remaining four children are still alive and that the defendant, Willis Shelton, claims as guardian to the said four sons and to Mary, who is another daughter of the said Anne." The court ruled in favor of Willis Shelton, that on the birth of the first male heir the estate was invested in him and that the claim of Martha was defeated.1,2

Martha SHELTON appeared on a census, enumerated 1 June 1790, in the household of Burrell SHELTON and Ann Lane in Edgecombe Township, Halifax County, North Carolina.3

Martha SHELTON appeared on a census, enumerated 1 August 1800, in the household of Burrell SHELTON and Ann Lane in Halifax, Halifax County, North Carolina.4

Martha SHELTON appeared on a census, enumerated 1 August 1810, in the household of Willis SHELTON in Halifax County, North Carolina.5

An unknown person married an unknown person on 19 December 1810 in Halifax County, North Carolina.6

In October 1814 William Wooten, by right of his wife, Martha SHELTON, received a 30 acres lot of land from the probate of the estate of Burrell SHELTON in Anson County, North Carolina. They drew Lot 1 containing 30 acres.7

On 20 February 1818 William Wooten and Martha SHELTON, his wife, Ladimon SHELTON and Stephen SHELTON, 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).8
Last Edited=3 Jan 2012

Citations

  1. [S682] Wootten v. Willis Shelton, online https://sites.rootsweb.com/~archertc/NC/1811/toc.html, Vol. 6, pg. 147-148.
  2. [S23] Margaret M. Hofmann, Halifax County, NC Wills, Will #416 David Lane, WB-3, pg. 183.
  3. [S224] 1790 U. S. Census, Halifax County, North Carolina, Burrel Shelton household, pg. 465.
  4. [S413] 1800 U. S. Census, Halifax County, North Carolina, Burwell Shelton household, pg. 342.
  5. [S414] 1810 U. S. Census, Halifax County, North Carolina, Willis Shelton household, pg. 118.
  6. [S852] Carrie L. Broughton, Raleigh Register & NC Gazette, Vol. 1799-1813, pg. 61. Raleigh Register 4 Jan 1810.
  7. [S684] Sheila Gibson, "Burrell Shelton Lineage," e-mail to John K. Brown, 28 Feb 2008.
  8. [S686] Sheila Gibson, "Burrell & Stephen," listserve message 20 Feb 2004, source: Anson Deed Book L, pg. 191.

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..