52 Ancestors: #39 - John FRAZIER

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small has issued a challenge:  write one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor.  It can be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem – anything that focuses on one ancestor.

My 4X great grandfather John Frazier was born about 1770 somewhere in Virginia, most likely in a part of Orange County that later became Albemarle County or perhaps Greene.  Land records, birth records, and wills paint a picture of a family criss-crossing county lines, but I think of the Fraziers as Greene County people since the majority of this particular family lived there.

John is the oldest confirmed ancestor of a family that can claim a murderer, abusive husband, community nuisance, war deserter, philanderer, author, loving grandfather, and respected land-owners whose dedication to the land has been memorialized in a trail on the Skyline Drive. 

View of the Shenandoah Valley
from the Frazier Trail on the Skyline Drive, Virginia

An ongoing debate is whether John Frazier was the actual father of son Leland who at various times went by both Frazier and Shiflett.  Leland was born 7 years before John married Lucy Shiflett, leading to a logical argument that he could have been fathered by someone else, especially since he often used Shiflett as his last name.  Yet he also used Frazier with equal frequency. 

When the 1844 indenture between John Frazier and all his children surfaced, researchers thought the debate was over.  The use of the expression “for natural love and affection” in the document implied that John viewed Leland as a son, an equal with the other children, whether he was flesh and blood or not. 

Frazier cabin seen on the Frazier Trail
photo courtesy of Kevin Frazier

So for a couple years now, many Frazier researchers have accepted that Leland was, in fact, John Frazier’s son.  But a new possibility has been discovered in a DAR application.  Quite often the applications contain surprising information, like the names of siblings or children and their spouses.  An Albemarle County patriot named Isaac Hardin had a sister Lucinda who married William Scott and who also married somebody named Shiflett.  The dates are right for Leland to be the child of that marriage.

IF Lucinda “Lucy” Hardin is the same Lucy Shiflett who married John Frazier, the debate has a different conclusion.  Why?  Because Leland’s middle name HARDIN cannot be ignored.  Bestowing the mother’s maiden name as a middle name was a naming trend that often proves useful in family research and is especially illuminating in this one.   While it is most likely true that John Frazier was not Leland’s natural father, he was very much a father to Leland and gave him the same consideration as the legitimate heirs.   

THREE GENERATIONS:

John FRAZIER  ( 1770 – Bef 1850 Greene Co, VA ) & Lucy SHIFLETT  ( 1778 – Aft 1850 Greene Co, VA )  20 Jan 1811 Albemarle, VA

1. Leland Hardin FRAZIER ( 1805 – 1892 Greene Co, VA ) &  m1) Ann Smith MALLORY ( 1806 Orange Co, VA – 1833 Orange Co, VA )  17 May 1827 Orange Co, VA ; & m2) America MALLORY ( 1810 – 1854 Greene Co, VA )  13 Nov 1833 Albemarle, VA ; & m3) Artemissa SHIFLETT ( 1813 – Jun 1890 Greene Co, VA )  05 Nov 1855 Greene Co, VA

Leland and Ann had the following children:

• Dr. Joseph Hardin FRAZIER ( 23 Apr 1828 Orange Co, VA – 01 Jun 1892 Randolph Co, MO) &  Deniza Emmaline EPPERLY  ( 04 Jan 1847 Randolph Co, MO – 07 Dec 1918 )  14 Feb 1864 Randolph County, MO

Leland and America had the following children:

• Huley FRAZIER ( 1836 - )
• Lou FRAZIER ( 1838 - )
• Thomas J. FRAZIER ( 1840 – Abt 1918 ) & m1) Julia Ann FRAZIER ( 1845 Greene Co, VA – Bef 1900 Greene Co, VA ) 04 Jul 1864 Greene Co, VA ; & m2) JENNIE FRAZIER ( 1877 Greene Co, VA – 22 Jan 1961 ) 12 Jun 1900 Greene Co, VA ; & possibly m3) Elizabeth HERRIN
• Barbara FRAZIER ( 02 May 1843 – 03 Aug 1910 ) & Anfield SHIFLETT ( 07 May 1837 – 31 Aug 1906 )  09 Nov 1858 Greene Co, VA

Leland and Artemissa had the following children:

• Columbia FRAZIER ( 1857 - Nov 1884 )  & m1) C. S. SHIFLETT ; & m2) Elvis Sturdivant SHIFLETT (1862 Greene Co, VA – Bef 1900 Greene Co, VA )  07 Apr 1881 Greene Co, VA

2. Nancy Elizabeth FRAZIER (14 Feb 1811 Albemarle Co, VA – 22 Jan 1895 Rockingham Co, VA ) & Burton SHIFLETT ( 1814 Orange County, VA – 22 Oct 1860 Greene Co, VA)  01 Dec 1834 Albemarle, VA

• Ola SHIFLETT ( 1835 –  Before 1850 )
• Jacob Haskell SHIFLETT (About 1836 – Before 08 Oct 1871 ) & Lucretia JOLLETT ( 18 Sep 1838 Rockingham Co, VA – 31 Dec 1911 Rockingham Co,VA )  05 Aug 1858 Page Co, VA
• John Conway SHIFLETT ( 02 Jun 1840 Greene Co, VA – 09 Feb 1917 Albemarle Co, VA ) & m1) Lucretia SHIFLETT  (1846 Greene Co, VA – Before Jul 1880 Greene Co, VA )  07 Dec 1863 Greene Co, VA  ; & m2) Nancy  J. SHIFLETT ( May 1848 - ) ; & m3) Mary D. SHIFLETT ( 1849 – 1924 ) 28 Jul 1880 Greene Co, VA 
• Lucy Ann SHIFLETT ( 1843 Greene Co, VA - 1884 Greene Co, VA ) & James Franklin JOLLETT ( 17 Nov 1836 Rockingham Co, VA – 03 Jun 1930 Augusta Co, VA )  12 Nov 1859 Greene Co, VA
• Francis M. SHIFLETT ( 1844 Greene Co, VA - )
• Jeremiah SHIFLETT ( 1847 Greene Co, VA - )
• Nancy Frances SHIFLETT ( 1849 Greene Co, VA – 1926 Fairfax, VA ) & William Gordon MORRIS JR.  (1851 Greene Co, VA – Before 1900 Greene Co, VA ) 20 Sep 1872 Greene Co, VA
• Susan Clementine SHIFLETT ( 22 Jun 1851 Greene Co, VA – 29 Dec 1928 Greene Co, VA )  & George Austin MORRIS  (06 Apr 1848 Greene Co, VA – 14 Nov 1934 Greene Co, VA )  12 Dec 1870 Greene Co, VA
• Victoria SHIFLETT ( Mar 1854 Greene Co, VA – Before 1930 ) & Ambrose VERNON 26 Dec 1875 Greene Co, VA
• George W. SHIFLETT ( 20 Apr 1856 Greene Co, VA - )
• Unnamed male SHIFLETT ( 1857 Greene Co, VA – 10 Mar 1857 Greene Co, VA )

3. Keziah FRAZIER ( 1812 Albemarle Co, VA – 08 Oct 1855 Greene Co, VA ) & Lively MORRIS (1812 – Abt 1890 Greene Co, VA )  27 Nov 1838 Greene County, VA

• Leland Y. MORRIS ( 1840 – )
• Susan MORRIS ( May 1842 Greene Co, VA – 21 Aug 1916 Elkton, Rockingham Co, VA ) & Charles W. HERRING ( 1839 – Aft 1910 Greene Co, VA )  14 Mar 1867 Greene Co, VA
• Noah Jackson MORRIS ( 12 Aug 1842 Greene Co, VA – 14 Jan 1928 Greene Co, VA ) & Rachel MORRIS (09 May 1845 Greene Co, VA – Nov 1932 Greene Co,  VA )  25 Jan 1866 Greene Co, VA
• Durrett MORRIS ( 1844 – 1898 Rockingham Co, VA ) & Sarah CRAWFORD  ( 1851 Rockingham Co, VA – 1926 )  07 Feb 1867 Rockingham Co, VA
• Mary Ann “Polly” MORRIS ( 1847 Greene Co, VA – 1945 Rockingham Co, VA ) & Valentine ROACH  ( 1841 Rockingham Co, VA – Aft 1920 Greene Co, VA )  04 Nov 1865 in Greene County, VA
• George Fountain MORRIS ( Oct 1848 Greene Co, VA - ) & m1) Kitty Margarette SHIFLETT ( 1850 Greene Co, VA – Nov 1892 Greene Co, VA )  28 Dec 1869 Greene Co, VA ; & m2) Drucilla FRAZIER  ( 1850 – ) 15 May 1894 Rockingham Co, VA
• Nancy Frances MORRIS ( May 1852 Greene Co, VA – 07 Oct 1935 Greene Co, VA ) & m1) John Elzie SHIFFLET  ( 16 Mar 1849 Greene Co, VA – 21 Mar 1922 Albemarle Co, VA ) 20 Jan 1870 Greene Co, VA ; & m2) Austin Jackson FRAZIER ( Jun 1855 Albemarle Co, VA – Dec 1921 Greene Co, VA )  02 Mar 1876 Greene Co, VA
• Sarah Elizabaeth MORRIS ( 1853 Greene Co, VA – Aft 1930 Greene Co, VA ) & George Nathaniel MORRIS  (Aug 1850 Greene Co, VA – 1918 Greene Co, VA )  28 Sep 1871 Greene Co, VA
• Kesiah Jane MORRIS  (1854 Greene Co, VA – 07 Dec 1915 Greene Co, VA ) & Henry C. KEYTON / KEATON ( 1853 Albemarle Co, VA – Abt 1898 )  29 Dec 1874 Greene, VA

4. Michael P. “Miley” FRAZIER  ( Feb 1814 – Before 1910 Albemarle Co, VA ) & Virenda Jane SHIFLETT ( 1821 Orange County, VA – Bef.  1900 Greene Co, VA )  14 Jul 1844 Greene Co, VA

• Julia Ann FRAZIER ( 1845 Greene Co, VA – Bef. 1900 Greene Co, VA) & Thomas J. FRAZIER (1840 – 1918) 04 Jul 1864 Greene Co, VA
• John T. FRAZIER ( 1847 Greene Co, VA – 1860 )
• Henry Timber FRAZIER ( 12 Aug 1849 Greene Co, VA - 12 Feb 1931 Greene Co, VA ) & Eliza Susan LAWSON ( Oct 1857 Rockingham Co, VA - )  03 Jan 1874 Rockingham Co, VA
• Jacob Emanuel FRAZIER ( 1851 – 1920 ) & Frances Jane MORRIS ( - Bef. 1920 ) 26 Dec 1883 Greene Co, VA
• Austin Jackson FRAZIER ( Jun 1855 Albemarle Co, VA - Dec 1921 Greene Co, VA ) & Nancy Frances MORRIS ( May 1852 Greene Co, VA - )  02 Mar 1876 Greene Co, VA
• J. M. FRAZIER ( 1859 Albemarle Co, VA - )
• Polly Jane FRAZIER ( 1862 Greene Co, VA -  09 Apr 1936 Greene Co, VA ) & Elvis Sturdivant SHIFLETT ( 1862 Greene Co, VA  – Bef. 1900 Greene Co, VA )  07 Jun 1885 Greene Co, VA
• George Dallas FRAZIER ( May 1866 Greene Co, VA - 13 Sep 1949 ) & Pauline Ann “Polly” MORRIS ( 1862 Greene Co, VA – After 1930 )  21 Oct 1886 Greene Co, VA

5. John Harris FRAZIER ( 1815 Virginia – Aft 1880 ) & Mary J. MORRIS ( 1817 – Bef 1860 ) 05 Apr 1836 Albemarle Co, VA

• William Andrew FRAZIER ( 02 Apr 1838 Rockingham Co, VA – 30 Dec 1891 Harrison, OH ) & Esther SNYDER (23 Oct 1840 Ohio – 17 Feb 1885 Harrison, OH )  24 Mar 1858 Scioto, OH
• John Elvis FRAZIER ( 15 Apr 1839 Rockingham Co, VA – 06 Nov 1924 Crawford, Kansas) &  Mary Ann Catherine MITCHEM (20 Nov 1840 Pike, Fulton, OH – 04 Feb 1917 Cherokee, OK )  07 Feb 1859 Jeffersonville, Fayette, OH
• Jacob FRAZIER ( 1841 Rockingham Co, VA – )
• Alfred FRAZIER ( 1843 Rockingham Co, VA – )
• Mary FRAZIER ( 1845 Rockingham Co, VA – )
• Leannah FRAZIER ( 1847 Rockingham Co, VA – )

6. William Thomas FRAZIER ( 1817 Madison Co, VA – 16 Dec 1860 Page Co, VA ) & Ardena MORRIS ( 1817 Orange Co, VA – Aft 1880 Page Co, VA ) 01 Jan 1841 Greene Co, VA

• Elias FRAZIER ( 1841 Greene Co, VA – 1864 Page Co, VA )
• William S. “Todd” FRAZIER  ( 1843 Greene Co, VA – 1888 Page Co, VA ) & Mary Jane KITE ( Dec 1847 Page Co, Va – 05 Jul 1919 Page Co, VA )  26 Feb 1874 Page Co, VA
• Joseph H. FRAZIER ( Oct 1848 Page Co, VA – 26 Jun 1923 Page Co, VA )
• James  F. FRAZIER ( 1849 Page Co, VA – )
• Jeremiah FRAZIER ( Mar 1852 Page Co, VA – 21 Nov 1906 Page Co, VA ) & Sarah MCDANIEL (1851 – 15 Feb 1924 Page Co, VA )
• Francis Catherine “Fannie” FRAZIER ( 02 May 1857 Page Co, VA – 02 Jul 1912 Page Co, VA ) & William MCDANIEL ( 11 May 1847 – 21 Aug 1921 Page Co, VA )  06 Oct 1871 Rockingham Co, VA

7. Shadrack FRAZIER ( 1820 – Aft 1880 Page Co, VA ) & Naomi DEAN  (1828 – 24 Oct 1860 Page Co, VA ) 13 Sep 1847 Albemarle Co, VA

• John Mordichai FRAZIER ( 04 Aug 1848 – 08 Apr 1916 Rockingham Co, VA ) & m1) Sarah C. DOVEL (13 Jul 1861 Rockingham Co, VA – 09 Jun 1907 Rockingham Co, VA ) ; & m2) Annie BURKETT (15 Oct 1874 Rockingham Co, VA – 06 Jan 1948 in Harrisonburg, VA )  1913
• James K. Polk FRAZIER  (15 Nov 1849 Rockingham Co, VA – 10 Oct 1919 Rockingham Co, VA ) & Josephine Catora STOVER (01 Jun 1860 – 13 Jun 1931 Rockingham Co, VA ) 07 Feb 1878 Rockingham Co, VA
• William F. FRAZIER ( 1851 Rockingham Co, VA – 09 Aug 1885 Rockingham Co, VA ) & Drucelia MORRIS  ( 1847 Greene Co, VA –  )  05 Nov 1872 Greene Co, VA
• Sarah A. Miriam FRAZIER ( 1853 Rockingham Co, VA – ) & John F. SHIFLETT  (1831 Albemarle Co, VA – Bef 1900 )  26 Jul 1873 in Greene Co, VA
• Shadrach P. FRAZIER ( 1854 Page Co, VA – 1923 Page Co, VA )
• Nancy E. FRAZIER ( 1857 Page Co, VA – )

8. Merry/Murray Walker FRAZIER  ( 1822 Albemarle Co, VA – Aug 1887 Greene Co, VA ) & Mariah KEATON  ( 1836 Albemarle Co, VA – Aft 1900 Greene Co, VA )  13 Oct 1881 Greene Co, VA

• Delilah S. FRAZIER ( 1865 Greene Co, VA – Sep 1894 ) & John W. L. SHIFLETT  ( 1866 – )  09 Dec 1888 in Greene Co, VA
• Benjamin R. FRAZIER ( 1866 Greene Co, VA – ) & Cary F. SHIFLETT ( 1867 Greene Co, VA – )   16 Jun 1889 Greene Co, VA
• William H. FRAZIER ( 1868 Greene Co, VA – )
• Mariah FRAZIER ( 1869 Greene Co, VA – )
• Louisa J. FRAZIER ( 1871 Greene Co, VA – )
• James E. FRAZIER ( 1874 Greene Co, VA – ) & Mollie JOHNSON ( 1878 Greene Co, VA – ) 01 Aug 1895 Greene Co, VA
• Furry Lee FRAZIER ( 1876 Greene Co, VA – )
• Jennie FRAZIER ( 1877 Greene Co, VA – 22 Jan 1961 ) & Thomas J. FRAZIER  ( 1840 – Abt 1918 ) 12 Jun 1900 Greene Co, VA
• George M. FRAZIER ( 1878 Greene Co, VA – )
• Almira FRAZIER ( 1884 Greene Co, VA – )  & Andrew J. CRAWFORD 12 Feb 1902 Greene Co, VA

9. Susan Frances FRAZIER ( 1824 – 1880 in Page Co, VA ) & Pleasant MORRIS ( 1823 – 1865 Page Co, VA )  02 Dec 1845 Greene Co, VA

• Eliza MORRIS  (1847 Greene Co, VA – )
• Rebecca MORRIS  (1849 Greene Co, VA – )
• Ella Frances MORRIS (1851 Page Co, VA – 04 May 1914 Albemarle Co, VA ) & John Elsie SHIFLETT (16 Mar 1849 – 21 Mar 1922 Albemarle Co, VA )  15 Dec 1878 Page Co, VA
• Pleasant G. MORRIS ( 12 Jan 1854 Page Co, VA – 11 Nov 1929 ) & Mary J. BLACK ( 1852 Greene Co, VA – )  02 Oct 1881 Greene Co, VA
• Amanda E. MORRIS (1856 Page Co, VA – After 1900 ) & James Hiden SHIFLETT  (About 1856 Greene Co, VA – About 1927 Albemarle Co, VA )  15 Jan 1880 Page Co, VA
• James F. MORRIS ( 1858 Page Co, VA - Before 1870 Page Co, VA )

© 2014, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.