52 Ancestors: What's In a Name?

This week’s theme in the 52 Ancestors challenge is “Favorite Name.” While “Nancy” is not my FAVORITE name, it certainly was a popular name at the time that my 3g grandmother was born. In fact, in the first decade of the 1800s, “Nancy” made the Top 5 list. By the time John and Lucy Frazier welcomed their third child/second daughter, “Nancy” had dropped to #7 in the Top 10. Judging by the 70 women in my database named “Nancy,” the name has continued to be a favorite among my ancestors and relatives.

Nancy Elizabeth Frazier was born on Valentine’s Day in 1811. When she was 23, she “robbed the cradle,” as they say, when she married Burton Shiflett, two years her junior, on December 1, 1834 in Albemarle County. The 1840 census is alphabetized, so it is not possible to get a good sense of the neighborhood they settled in. Since people did not move that often, the 1850 census suggests Burton and Nancy lived among family just as their parents and grandparents had done. Next door were Burton’s brother Madison Shiflett and Nancy’s brother Miley Frazier. All were farmers. Burton’s real estate was valued at $500. Neither he nor Nancy could read or write.

Between 1834 and 1857, Nancy and Burton had 11 children. The first, Ola, was born in 1835, but since she was not in the 1850 census, it is likely that she had died. Two sons, Francis (b. 1844) and Jeremiah (b. 1847), disappeared after the 1860 census.

After 1860, Nancy’s husband Burton was no longer enumerated either. That’s because he was killed by Nancy’s brother Leland Shiflett/Frazier. According to family legend, a fight that concluded with a knife-stabbing began near a moonshine still. Perhaps Leland and Burton argued over spirits, but no one today knows the story behind the story.

At any rate, Nancy was left a widow. In 1870 she was listed as the head of household on a farm worth $600. At home were three daughters and one son, George, who was reportedly “Dumb” and helpless. Fortunately her daughter Lucy and son-in-law James Franklin Jollett were next door. It is likely that James Franklin worked the Shiflett farm.

In 1871, Nancy plus her children and their spouses sold 200 acres for $300 to Nancy’s brother Miley Frazier. Today this tract is part of the Frazier Discovery Trail near the Loft Mountain campground on the Skyline Drive.

Greene County Deed Book ?
Nancy E. Shiflet widow of Burton Shiflett decd, John C. Shiflett and Lucretia his wife, Jas. F. Jollet and Lucy Ann his wife, Nancy F. Shiflett, George Austin Morris and Susan C. his wife, Victoria J. Shiflett to Miley Frazier
21 Dec 1871

This deed Made this twenty first day of December 1871, between Nancy E. Shiflet widow of Burton Shiflett decd, John C. Shiflett and Lucretia his wife, Jas. F. Jollet and Lucy Ann his wife, Nancy F. Shiflett, George Austin Morris and Susan C. his wife, Victoria J. Shiflett of the first and Mily Frazier of the second part all of Greene County Virginia, Witnesseth, that in consideration of three hundred dollars to them in hand paid by said Mily Frazier, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, The said Nancy E. Shiflet, John C. Shiflett and Lucretia his wife, Jas. F. Jollet and Lucie Ann his wife, Nancy F. Shiflet, George Austin Morris and Susan C. his wife, Victoria J. Shiflet, hereby grant unto the said Mily Frazier with general warranty the following real Estate to wit: Two hundred acres more or less, Beginning on Lynches River at Henry Austins corner thence to Burr? Lanes line, thence with said Lanes line to Wyatt Mills' corner thence to Poison Nole? corner thence to pole hill corner thence to the beginning, the above land lies in the county and State aforesaid.
Nancy E. (her x mark) Shiflett
John C. Shiflett
Lucretia (her x mark) Shiflett
James F. Jollett
Lucy Ann Jollett
Nancy F. Shiflett
George Austin Morris
Susan C. Morris
Victoria J. Shiflett
Acknowledged by all parties 21 December 1871 before Greene County J.P. Nath. B. Chapman and J.A. Davis

The absence of Ola, Francis, and Jeremiah on the deed is further indication that they were probably all dead by then. The son George is also not on the deed, but whether he was dead or just not qualified to be on a legal document is not known. However, he was not in the 1880 census. Surely had he been alive, he would have been living with his mother.

In 1880, Nancy was still head of household. Living with her were her son John Conway and two of his children, Dora and Joseph. Enumerated as “Disabled,” John appears on the list of “Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes” as a deaf mute. That did not stop him from fathering children out of wedlock and later remarrying.

At some point, Nancy Elizabeth moved to Rockingham County to live with her daughter Nancy Frances. Nancy Elizabeth died 22 January 1895. She is buried in the cemetery of Pine Grove Church of the Brethren in Lacy Springs, Rockingham County, Virginia.

 

Nancy E. Shiflett
died Jan 22, 1895
83 yrs 11 mo 8 ds

Family of Nancy Elizabeth Frazier and Burton Shiflett

Nancy Elizabeth FRAZIER (14 Feb 1811 Albemarle Co, VA – 22 Jan 1895, Lacey Springs, VA) & Burton SHIFLETT (Circa 1814 - 20 Oct 1866 Greene Co, VA) m. 1 Dec 1834 Albemarle Co, VA. 

1. Ola SHIFLETT (1835 - )
2. Jacob Haskell Shiflett (Circa 1836 Greene Co, VA - Before Oct 1871 ) & Lucretia "Crecie" Jollett(18 Sep 1838 Rockingham Co, VA - 31 Dec 1911   Rockingham Co, VA)  m. 5 Aug 1858 Page Co, VA

• Mary E. Shiflett (1861 Rockingham Co, VA - Before 1955) & George R. "Herbert" Mayhew (Jul 1847 New York – 1 Jun 1909 McKeesport, PA)  m. 17 March 1879 Page Co, VA
•  Martha F. S. Shiflett (Mar 1863 Rockingham Co, VA - Before 1955) & George W. McCauley (19 Jul 1852 Albemarle Co, VA - 22 Jun 1918 Albemarle Co, VA) m. 8 June 1882 Rockingham Co, VA

3. John Conway "Connie" Shiflett (2 Jun 1840 Greene Co, VA - 9 Feb 1916 Albemarle Co, VA ) & m1) Lucretia Shiflett (Circa 1846 Greene Co, VA - Before Jul 1880 Greene Co, VA) m. 7 Dec 1863 Greene Co, VA ;  m2) Mary D. Shiflett (2 Dec 1849 Greene Co, VA – 8 Jan 1924 Albemarle Co, VA)  m. 22 July 1880 Greene Co, VA

Issue with Lucretia Shiflett

• Eudora A. or Endora Shiflett (1 Jul 1866 Albemarle Co, VA - 28 Dec 1932 Albemarle Co, VA) & John Lewis Gibson (7 Jun 1862 Fluvanna, VA - 7 Jan 1937 Albemarle Co, VA)  m. 18 May 1884 Greene Co, VA
• Joseph Ottobine Shiflett (30 Mar 1868 Greene Co, VA - 1942 Baltimore, MD) & m1) Edie Coleman (1870 - 28 Aug 1906 Greene Co, VA) m. May 1891 Greene Co, VA; m2) Rosa L. Roberts (Jan 1893 Augusta Co, VA – 1955 Baltimore, MD) m. 10 March 1909 Augusta Co, VA           

Issue with Nancy J. Shiflett [not married]

• John Conway Shiflett  Jr. (5 Oct 1877 Albemarle Co, VA - 27 Apr 1947 Charlottesville, VA) & Alice E. Shiflett (1 Aug 1887 Albemarle Co, VA - 2 Dec 1973 Charlottesville, VA) m. 11 Oct 1901 Albemarle Co, VA
• Lucy Ann Shiflett (5 Oct 1877 Albemarle Co, VA - 30 Sep 1947 Charlottesville, VA) & Adam Keblinger Wyant (2 Nov 1855 Albemarle Co, VA - 21 Jan 1941 Charlottesville, VA)

Issue with Mary D. Shiflett

• Maude B. Shiflett (27 Apr 1881 Albemarle Co, VA - 31 Oct 1957 Staunton, VA) & George Burruss Shiflett (17 Sep 1872 Albemarle Co, VA - 21 May 1948 Albemarle Co, VA) m. 29 Dec 1904 Albemarle Co, VA
• Wilford Clement Shiflett (5 Apr 1888 - 5 Aug 1961) & Lutitia "Lishie" Morris Sullivan (29 Nov 1885 Greene Co, VA - 27 Dec 1965 Albemarle Co, VA) m. 27 Oct 1921 Greene Co, VA
• Woodford H. Shiflett (20 May 1890 Albemarle Co, VA - 2 Feb 1926 Albemarle Co, VA) & Louise LEWIS (21 Aug 1896 Albemarle Co, VA - 2 Jul 1964 Albemarle Co, VA) m. 6 March 1916 Albemarle Co, VA

4. Lucy Ann Shiflett (1843 Greene Co, VA - 1884 Greene Co, VA) & James Franklin Jollett (17 Nov 1836 - 3 Jun 1930 Augusta Co, VA) m. 12 Nov 1859 Greene Co, VA

• Burton Lewis Jollett (2 Oct 1860 Greene Co, VA – 4 May 1934 Greene Co, VA) & m1) Louisa E. Sullivan (Aug 1862 Greene Co, VA - Before 1900) m. 20 Jan 1881 Greene Co, VA ; m2) Cornelia Morris Sullivan (Nov 1844 Greene Co, VA - 2 Aug 1927 Greene Co, VA)
• Emma Franklin Jollett (1 Feb 1863 Greene Co, VA – 10 Apr 1945 Page Co, VA) & Andrew Jackson Coleman (29 Jul 1858 Greene Co, VA - 4 Oct 1947 Page Co, VA) m. 26 Nov 1880 Greene Co, VA
• Laura Etta Jollett (30 May 1865 Greene Co, VA – 30 Jul 1947 Page Co, VA) & William J. Sullivan (13 Jan 1866 Greene Co, VA - 22 May 1942 Page Co, VA) m. 14 Jan 1886 Greene Co, VA
• Leanna Alice Jollett (14 Mar 1867 Greene Co, VA – 20 Sep 1936 Albemarle Co, VA) & James Mitchell Knight (9 May 1866 Greene Co, VA - 16 Feb 1942 Greene Co, VA) m. 1 Mar 1885 Greene Co, VA
• Mary Frances Jollett (10 Jan 1870 Greene Co, VA – 22 Feb 1950 Harrisonburg, VA) & Walter Davis (12 Sep 1867 Rockingham Co, VA - 31 Oct 1934 Page Co, VA) m. 11 Feb 1890 Greene Co, VA
• Sarah Catherine Jollett (11 May 1872 Greene Co, VA – 7 Jul 1944 Washington D.C.) & George T. Clift (Sep 1865 Page Co, VA - ) m. 30 Mar 1891 Page Co, VA
• Victoria Elizabeth Jollett (19 Mar 1878 Greene Co, VA – 2 May 1944 Washington D.C.) & Decatur Breeden (15 Sep 1877 Rockingham Co, VA - 27 Sep 1952 Washington D.C.) m. 26 Dec 1901 Page Co, VA
• William Isaac Jollett (Jan 1880 Greene Co, VA – Jul 1903 Newport News, VA)
• Ulysses Finks Jollett (26 Jan 1883 Greene Co, VA – 30 Jan 1931 Baltimore, MD) & Sadie Janiero Lamb (7 Jul 1880 Greene Co, VA - 5 Feb 1961 Fredericksburg, VA) m. 23 Nov 1903 Greene Co, VA

5. Francis M. Shiflett (1844 Greene Co, VA - before 1871)

6. Jeremiah Shiflett (1847 Greene Co, VA - before 1871 )

7. Nancy Frances Shiflett (1850 Greene Co, VA - 2 Mar 1926 Washington, D.C. ) & William Gordon Morris Jr. (Circa 1851 Greene Co, VA – 1891 Greene Co, VA) m. 20 Sept 1872

• William Layton Morris (1874 Greene Co, VA – 3 Feb 1895 Rockingham Co, VA) & Ida Mary Marshall Davis (25 Jun 1869 Rockingham Co, VA – ?) m. 12 Dec 1890 Rockingham Co, VA
• Upshur Morris (1875 Greene Co, VA - 1891 Greene Co, VA)
• Addie Morris (27 Mar 1876 Greene Co, VA - Apr 1901 Rockingham Co, VA) & Henry Armentrout (15 Sep 1854 Rockingham Co, VA - 30 Apr 1941 Rockingham Co, VA) m. 1899 Greene Co, VA
• Lemuel Belvin Morris (16 Dec 1877 Greene Co, VA - 27 Oct 1947 Arlington, VA) & Emma Claudine Bernard (26 Jan 1885 Franklin Co, VA - 25 Apr 1963 Arlington, VA) m. 12 Mar 1906 Rockville, MD
• Marvin Tollie Morris (7 Aug 1878 Greene Co, VA  - 7 Mar 1943 McLean, VA) & Virgie Rhinehart (23 Mar 1885 Rockingham Co, VA - 9 Oct 1962 Arlington, VA)
• Ethel Morris (13 Jul 1881 Greene Co, VA - 1 Jun 1964) & Peter Davis (24 Apr 1865 - 13 Dec 1930 Washington, D.C.) m. 18 Oct 1905 Washington, D.C.
• Vessie Morris (15 Feb 1883 Greene Co, VA - 6 Mar 1950 Fairfax, VA) & Paul E. Rhinehart (16 Apr 1873 Rockingham Co, VA - 7 Jan 1963 Charlottesville, VA) m. 30 Jul 1903 Harrisonburg, VA
• Margaret Elizabeth "Maggie" Morris (13 Sep 1884 Greene Co, VA - 26 Nov 1975 Albany, NY ) & m1) John R. Payne (15 Jun 1888 Fauquier Co, VA - 7 Jul 1923 Washington, D.C.) m. 19 Sep 1919 Alexandria, VA ; m2) Rex Wills m. 27 Jul 1933 Hagerstown, MD
• Blanche Cornelia Morris (27 Feb 1887 Greene Co, VA - 25 Dec 1968 Falls Church, VA) & Lewon Russell Smith (27 Nov 1880 Fairfax Co, VA - 2 Nov 1971 Fairfax Co, VA) m. 27 Jun 1906 Washington D.C.

8. Susan Clementine "Clem" Shiflett (22 Jun 1851 Greene Co, VA - 29 Dec 1928 Greene Co, VA) & George Austin Morris (6 Apr 1848 Greene Co, VA - 14 Nov 1934 Greene Co, VA)  m. 12 Dec 1870 Greene Co, VA

• Ida Belle Morris (15 Sep 1871 Greene Co, VA - 2 Apr 1917 Greene Co, VA) & George Allen Knight (11 May 1867 Greene Co, VA - 8 Sep 1948 Greene Co, VA) m. 11 Jan 1894 Greene Co, VA
• Francis Monroe Morris (21 Jul 1873 Greene Co, VA - 10 Aug 1936 Albemarle Co, VA)  & Ludelia Morris (6 Oct 1877 Greene Co, VA  - 17 May 1958 Orange Co, VA) m. 28 Dec 1899 Greene Co, VA 
• Leviston Ervin Morris (1 Mar 1874 Greene Co, VA  - 25 Dec 1957 Albemarle Co, VA) & Roberta Ella Morris (17 Mar 1878 Greene Co, VA  - 30 Mar 1958 Greene Co, VA ) m. 28 Dec 1899 Greene Co, VA 
• Altie Zora Morris (2 Dec 1876 Greene Co, VA  - 29 Dec 1954 Vienna, VA ) & Charles Pirkey (19 Dec 1872 Rockingham Co, VA - 2 Jan 1943 Vienna, VA ) m. 23 Dec 1902 Greene Co, VA
• Mary Ann Morris (2 Dec 1878 Greene Co, VA - 18 Jun 1947 Greene Co, VA) & m1) James Charles Sullivan (11 Jul 1875 Greene Co, VA - 21 Mar 1913 Greene Co, VA) m. 19 Sep 1900  Greene Co, VA  ; m2)  Manis Oscar Sullivan (9 Dec 1888 Greene Co, VA - 12 Sep 1961 Fairfax, VA) m. 14 Sep 1915
• John Paul Morris (30 Mar 1880 Greene Co, VA - 21 Dec 1916 Greene Co, VA )
• Rhoda Green Morris (17 Nov 1882 Greene Co, VA - 22 Apr 1902 Greene Co, VA)
• Columbus Abell Morris (2 May 1884 Greene Co, VA - 15 Apr 1964 Philadelphia, PA)  & Elizabeth Bessie Collins (16 Aug 1891 Pennsylvania - 11 Nov 1938 Philadelphia, PA) m. 1913
• Sylvester Eddie Morris (22 Feb 1886 Greene Co, VA  - 12 Nov 1967 Charlottesville, VA) & Nettie Jane Morris (28 Apr 1909 Greene Co, VA  - 27 Apr 1978 Greene Co, VA) m. 5 Aug 1930 Greene Co, VA 
• Myrtle Nelson Morris (29 Feb 1888 Greene Co, VA - 1 Mar 1970 Gordonsville, VA) & Anna Collier (10 Aug 1886 Greene Co, VA - 31 Jan 1965 Gordonsville, VA) m. 5 Aug 1930 Greene Co, VA 
• Willie Lee Morris (27 Feb 1889 Greene Co, VA  - 15 Jul 1918 France) [killed in Battle of the Huns World War I]
• George Washington Morris (Jun 1891 Greene Co, VA - Jun 1891 Greene Co, VA)
• Julia Catherine Morris (2 Apr 1893 Greene Co, VA - 1 Jun 1979 Alexandria, VA) & George Gilmer (10 Aug 1884 Rockingham Co, VA - 8 Sep 1962 Charlottesville, VA) m. 3 Jun 1918 Greene Co, VA 
• Eveline Marie Morris (12 Mar 1895 Greene Co, VA - 26 Jul 1976 Falls Church, VA) & Robert Collier (28 Dec 1889 Greene Co, VA - 5 Jan 1963 Loudoun, VA) m. 22 Jun 1922 Albemarle Co, VA
• Mabel Alice Morris (12 Dec 1897 Greene Co, VA - 27 Jun 1966 Baltimore, MD) & Isaac Jackson Rice (20 Dec 1893 Sistersville, WV - 16 Jun 1965 Ann Arundel, MD)

9. Victoria Shiflett (14 Mar 1854 Greene Co, VA - 13 Mar 1926 Greene Co, VA) & Ambrose Vernon (10 Mar 1854 – 29 Aug 1936 Greene Co, VA) m. 26 Dec 1875

• Ira Vernon (11 Dec 1876 Greene Co, VA - 20 Jun 1953 Greene Co, VA)  & Josie Marshall (22 Sep 1876 Rockingham Co, VA - 8 Feb 1961 Greene Co, VA ) m. 27 Jan 1898 Greene Co, VA
• Madie Vernon (14 Jun 1881 Greene Co, VA - ?) & Reinhold Merschel (2 Aug Plaeswitz, Germany - ) m. 26 May 1909 Summit Co, OH
• Charles Marcus Vernon (14 Mar 1880 Greene Co, VA - 11 Apr 1959 Staunton, VA) & Flossie Lee Landes (30 Dec 1896 Rockingham Co, VA - 13 Oct 1995 Salisbury, MD)
• John Fleming Vernon (9 Oct 1881 Greene Co, VA - 7 Sep 1937 Charlottesville, VA)
• Lucy Ann Vernon (13 Jun 1884 Greene Co, VA - 3 Feb 1972 Greene Co, VA) & Beauregard George “Buey” Snow (20 May 1877 Greene Co, VA - 7 Apr 1961 Greene Co, VA) m. 23 May 1906 Greene Co, VA

10. George Shiflett (1856 - )

11.  Unnamed Shiflett (1857-1857)

Wendy

© 2018, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

The Wives of James Franklin Jollett: Lucy Ann Shiflett

As part of my “Genealogy Do-Over” efforts AND to force myself to get crackin’ on my James Franklin Jollett book, Jollett Reunion, I will be researching and writing brief biographies of James Franklin, his wives, and his children. 

Lucy Ann Shiflett was born in 1843, the fourth child of eleven born to Burton and Nancy Elizabeth Frazier Shiflett of Greene County, Virginia. Their farm was situated in Bacon Hollow which is outlined by Flattop, Wyatt, Hightop, Greene, Brokenback, and Snow Mountains. The Roach River runs its full length. 

Twelve hundred feet above Bacon Hollow is the Overlook on the Skyline Drive which did not exist when Lucy Ann was alive.

Unlike her parents, Lucy Ann learned to read and write. Little else is known of her childhood except that she grew up on a farm. Her father Burton owned 126 acres, 45 of which was improved and 81 unimproved. On the Agricultural Schedule (non-population census) of 1850, the farm was valued at $500 and farm tools at $40. The Shifletts owned 2 horses, 2 milk cows and 5 other cattle, 3 sheep, and 19 swine, the total of which was valued at $180. At the time of the census, Burton had produced 3 bushels of wheat, 75 bushels of Indian corn, 100 bushels of oats, 75 pounds of tobacco, 18 pounds of wool, 1 bushel of peas or beans, 12 bushels of potatoes, 4 bushels of buckwheat, and 200 pounds of butter. Compared to his neighbors, Burton was on par with the Joneses, or in this case, the Morrises, Fraziers, Haneys, and Colliers.

If the Shifletts lived like most families did at that time, Lucy Ann likely helped with the farm in some way. She probably also helped her mother take care of the younger children. The baby of the family, George, was enumerated in 1870 as “helpless” and “dumb,” so certainly he needed extra attention from everyone in the family.

Depending on the census record, Lucy Ann was either 16 or 19 when she married James Franklin Jollett on November 12, 1859. They lived next door to her parents. James Franklin’s occupation in 1860 was “Laborer,” so it is likely he worked on his in-laws’ farm.

James Franklin Jollett
possibly his wedding portrait

Lucy Ann and James Franklin were still newlyweds in September 1860 when Lucy Ann’s father was stabbed to death by his brother-in-law, Lucy Ann’s uncle Leland Frazier. What led to this awful event can only be speculated. Leland was charged with murder, but the jury found him guilty of Voluntary Manslaughter and sentenced him to four years in jail. This suggests that Leland did not plan to kill his sister’s husband, but he did so purposely in the heat of the moment.

When her father was killed, Lucy Ann was 8 months pregnant. Just weeks after Burton was laid to rest, Lucy Ann gave birth to her first child, a boy, whom she and James Franklin named Burton Lewis, Burton for her father, and Lewis for James Franklin’s father Fielding Lewis.

Lucy Ann and James Franklin had at least 8 more children. The last known child was born in January 1883. Lucy Ann died in January 1884, supposedly from “childbed fever.” However, the facts do not add up: a full year seems too long for “childbed” to be the cause of death. Perhaps there was another infant unaccounted for and who died as well, or “childbed fever” was not the cause of death.

Throughout her life, Lucy Ann and James Franklin lived near her mother, her brothers and sisters, even her grandmother. Where she is buried is not known, but surely she was buried near her home, if not in Bacon Hollow, then most certainly somewhere in Greene County.

Family of Burton Shiflett and Nancy E. Frazier

Burton Shiflett (1814 Orange Co, VA – 6 Sep 1860 Greene Co, VA) and Nancy Elizabeth Frazier (14 Feb 1811 Albemarle Co, VA – 22 Jan 1895 Rockingham Co, VA) married 1 Dec 1834 Albemarle Co, VA

1. Ola Shiflett (1835 Orange Co, VA - )
2. Jacob Haskell Shiflett (1836 Orange Co, VA – before 8 Oct 1871) and Lucretia Jollett (18 Sep 1838 Rockingham Co, VA – 31 Dec 1911 Rockingham Co, VA ) married 5 Aug 1858 Page Co, VA
3. John Conway Shiflett (2 Jun 1840 Greene Co, VA – 9 Feb 1917 Albemarle Co, VA) and married 1) Lucretia Shiflett (1846 Greene Co, VA – Before Jul 1880 Greene Co, VA) 7 Dec 1863 Greene Co, VA ; Common-law wife 2) Nancy J. Shiflett (May 1848 - ); married 3) Mary D. Shiflett (2 Dec 1849 Greene Co, VA – 8 Jan 1925 Albemarle Co, VA) married 28 Jul 1880 Greene Co, VA
4. Lucy Ann Shiflett (1843 Greene Co, VA – Jan 1884 Greene Co, VA ) and James Franklin Jollett (17 Nov 1836 Rockingham Co, VA – 3 Jun 1930 Augusta Co, VA) married 12 Nov 1859 Greene Co, VA
5. Francis M. Shiflett (1844 Greene Co, VA - )
6. Jeremiah Shiflett (1847 Greene Co, VA  - )
7. Nancy Frances Shiflett (10 Jan 1849 Greene Co, VA – 2 Mar 1926 Washington D. C.) and William Gordon Morris Jr. (1851 Greene Co, VA – 1891 Greene Co, VA) married 20 Sep 1872 Greene Co, VA
8. Susan Clementine Shiflett (22 Jun 1851 Greene Co, VA – 29 Dec 1928 Greene Co, VA) married George Austin Morris (26 Apr 1849 Greene Co, VA – 14 Nov 1934 Greene Co, VA) married 12 Dec 1870 Greene Co, VA
9. Victoria Shiflett (Mar 1854 Greene Co, VA – 13 Mar 1926 Greene Co, VA) and Ambrose Vernon (14 Mar 1854 Madison co, VA – 29 Aug 1936 Greene Co, VA ) married 26 Dec 1875 Greene Co, VA
10. George W. Shiflett (20 Apr 1856 Greene Co, VA - )
11. Unnamed baby boy (1857 – 10 Mar 1857 Greene Co, VA)

Family of Lucy A. Shiflett and James Franklin Jollett 

Lucy Ann Shiflett (1843 Greene Co, VA – Jan 1884 Greene Co, VA ) and James Franklin Jollett (17 Nov 1836 Rockingham Co, VA – 3 Jun 1930 Augusta Co, VA) married 12 Nov 1859 Greene Co, VA

1. Burton Lewis Jollett (2 Oct 1860 Greene Co, VA – 4 May 1934 Greene Co, VA)
2. Emma Franklin Jollett (1 Feb 1863 Greene Co, VA – 10 Apr 1945 Page Co, VA)
3. Laura Etta Jollett (30 May 1865 Greene Co, VA – 30 Jul 1947 Page Co, VA)
4. Leanna Alice Jollett (14 Mar 1867 Greene Co, VA – 20 Sep 1936 Albemarle Co, VA)
5. Mary Frances Jollett (10 Jan 1870 Greene Co, VA – 22 Feb 1950 Harrisonburg, VA)
6. Sarah Catherine Jollett (11 May 1872 Greene Co, VA – 7 Jul 1944 Washington D.C.)
7. Victoria Elizabeth Jollett (19 Mar 1878 Greene Co, VA – 2 May 1944 Washington D.C.)
8. William Isaac Jollett (Jan 1880 Greene Co, VA – Jul 1903 Newport News, VA)
9. Ulysses Finks Jollett (26 Jan 1883 Greene Co, VA – 30 Jan 1931 Baltimore, MD)

NEXT WEEK: Eliza Jane Coleman

Wendy 

© 2016, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

52 Ancestors: 32 Greats

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.

To commemorate the 32^nd week of blogging our ancestors, I am following the theme to honor one of my 32 3X great-grandparents. I know the names of only 19 of the 32, but of those 19, three names are incomplete:

Leonard Davis Jr and Fanny Wyant; Samuel Willson and UNKNOWN; 

Fielding Jollett and Mary Ann Armentrout; John Frank Rucker and Mary Jarrell; 

Ezekial Herndon and Sarah Jones; William Eppard and Helena Foland; 

Isaac Shiflett and Susan Jordan; Stephen Slade and Margaret UNKNOWN; 

Unknown Keene and Unknown Douglas; 

Burton Shiflett and Nancy Elizabeth Frazier

One who has always intrigued me is Nancy Elizabeth Frazier Shiflett. She was my maternal grandfather’s maternal grandmother’s mother. She was the oldest daughter of John Frazier and Lucy Hardin Shiflett, born on Valentine’s Day in 1811. In all there were 9 children in this farming family of Albemarle County, Virginia (and later Greene County).

At the ripe age of 23, Nancy married Burton Shiflett on December 1, 1834 in Albemarle County. Albemarle borders Greene where the two then lived and raised 11 children. Nearby were the farms of Burton’s brother Madison as well as Nancy’s brothers Michael/Miley and William. Their other siblings were not far away either.

Shifletts and Fraziers have a long history of intermarriage as well as a colorful history of feuding that could rival the Hatfield-McCoy saga if they had a better public relations representative. I have been unable to uncover what led to the fight between Burton Shiflett and Nancy’s older brother Leland one day in September 1860. But the fight involved a knife, and in the end, Burton lay dead.

Greene County, Virginia
Historic Jail
(formerly a museum run by the Greene County Historical Society)

Poor Nancy – too soon a widow and caught in the middle between brother and husband. I wonder if she attended court to witness her brother’s trial. Did she pray for leniency? The Grand Jury found just cause to charge Leland with Murder. However, Leland’s jury of peers found him guilty of Voluntary Manslaughter:

“We the Jury find the prisoner is guilty of Voluntary Manslaughter, and fixed his term of imprisonment to four years in the penitentiary house, Nov 20, 1860.”

The Judge gave Leland an opportunity to speak for himself but he had nothing to say, and so he was led out of the courtroom and to the jail.

It could not have been easy for a woman in the mid-nineteenth century to keep up the household on her own. In the 1870 census, Nancy was head of household with three unmarried adult daughters still at home “without occupation” and one son “helpless.” George was enumerated as being “Dumb,” meaning he could not speak. That implies he was probably also deaf since census takers were instructed NOT to check “Deaf” if the person could still speak despite loss of hearing. 

Perhaps it was fortunate that Nancy’s daughter Lucy and her husband James Franklin Jollett were next door. He was listed as a farm laborer, so it is likely he worked on his mother-in-law’s farm, which she valued at $600 in the 1870 census.

The next year Nancy and her children sold the land to her brother Miley Frazier for $300.

Nancy E. Shiflet widow of Burton Shiflett decd, John C. Shiflett and Lucretia his wife, Jas. F. Jollet and Lucy Ann his wife, Nancy F. Shiflett, George Austin Morris and Susan C. his wife, Victoria J. Shiflett to Miley Frazier

21 Dec 1871

Greene County Deed Book 

This deed Made this twenty first day of December 1871, between Nancy E. Shiflet widow of Burton Shiflett decd, John C. Shiflett and Lucretia his wife, Jas. F. Jollet and Lucy Ann his wife, Nancy F. Shiflett, George Austin Morris and Susan C. his wife, Victoria J. Shiflett of the first and Mily Frazier of the second part all of Greene County Virginia, Witnesseth, that in consideration of three hundred dollars to them in hand paid by said Mily Frazier, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, The said Nancy E. Shiflet, John C. Shiflett and Lucretia his wife, Jas. F. Jollet and Lucie Ann his wife, Nancy F. Shiflet, George Austin Morris and Susan C. his wife, Victoria J. Shiflet, hereby grant unto the said Mily Frazier with general warranty the following real Estate to wit: Two hundred acres more or less, Beginning on Lynches River at Henry Austins corner thence to Burr? Lanes line, thence with said Lanes line to Wyatt Mills' corner thence to Poison Nole? corner thence to pole hill corner thence to the beginning, the above land lies in the county and State aforesaid.

Nancy E. (her x mark) Shiflett

John C. Shiflett

Lucretia (her x mark) Shiflett

James F. Jollett

Lucy Ann Jollett

Nancy F. Shiflett

George Austin Morris

Susan C. Morris

Victoria J. Shiflett

Acknowledged by all parties 21 December 1871 before Greene County J.P. Nath. B. Chapman and J.A. Davis

In 1880 Nancy and her son John Conway were living together along with his two children by his first wife. John was listed as disabled. (However, he was not SO disabled that he couldn’t marry a third time and father more children.)

Nancy Elizabeth Frazier Shiflett died January 22, 1895 and is buried in Lacey Springs, Rockingham County, Virginia.

Tombstone of Nancy E. Frazier Shiflett
photo courtesy of Olen Morris

Two Generations:

Nancy Elizabeth FRAZIER ( 14 Feb 1811 Albemarle Co, Virginia – 22 Jan 1895 Lacey Springs, Rockingham Co, Virginia) & Burton SHIFLETT (1814 Orange Co, Virginia – 06 Sep 1860 Greene Co, Virginia)  01 Dec 1834  Albemarle, Virginia

1. Ola SHIFLETT ( 1835 - )

2. Jacob Haskell SHIFLETT ( 1836 - before 08 Oct 1871) & Lucretia JOLLETT (18 Sep 1838 Rockingham Co, Virginia - 31 Dec 1911 Rockingham Co, Virginia)  05 Aug 1858 Page Co, Virginia

• Mary E. SHIFLETT ( May 1859 - before 1955) & George R. MAYHEW   17 Mar 1879 Page Co, VA
• Martha F. S. SHIFLETT ( 15 Mar 1863 - before 1955) & George W. MCCAULEY  08 Jun 1882 Rockingham Co, VA

3. John Conway SHIFLETT ( 02 Jun 1840 Greene Co, VA – 09 Feb 1917 Albemarle Co, VA ) & m1) Lucretia SHIFLETT (1846 Greene Co, VA - ) 07 Dec 1863 Greene Co, VA ; m2) Nancy J. SHIFLETT (May 1848 - ) ; m3) Mary D. SHIFLETT (1849 – 1924) 28 Jul 1880

Children of John and Lucretia:

• Eudora A. SHIFLETT ( 01 Jul 1866 - 28 Dec 1932) & John Lewis GIBSON 18 May 1884 Greene Co, VA
• Joseph Ottobine SHIFLETT ( 30 Mar 1868 - ) & m1) Edie COLEMAN 10 Mar 1909 Augusta Co, VA ; m2) Rosa L. ROBERTS

Children of John and Nancy:

• John Conway SHIFLETT JR. ( 05 Oct 1877 - 27 Apr 1947) & Alice E. SHIFLETT 11 Oct 1901 Albemarle Co, VA
• Lucy Ann SHIFLETT ( 05 Oct 1877 - 30 Sep 1947) & Adam K. WYANT

Children of John and Mary:

• Maude B. SHIFLETT  (Feb 1883 - 31 Oct 1957) & George Burruss SHIFLETT 29 Dec 1904 in Albemarle Co, VA
• Wilford Clement SHIFLETT ( 05 Apr 1888 - 05 Aug 1961) & Lutitia Jane MORRIS 27 Oct 1921 Greene Co, VA
• Woodford H. SHIFLETT ( 20 May 1890 - 02 Feb 1926) & Louise LEWIS 06 Mar 1916 in Albemarle Co, VA

4. Lucy Ann SHIFLETT ( 1843 Greene Co, VA - 1884 Monroe, Greene, VA) &. James Franklin JOLLETT (17 Nov 1836 Rockingham Co, VA – 03 Jun 1930 Augusta Co, VA) 12 Nov 1859 Greene Co, VA

• Burton Lewis JOLLETT  (1860 in Virginia – Before 5 May 1934 in Greene Co, Virginia) & m1) Louisa SULLIVAN (1861 – 1900) 20 Jan 1881 ; & m2) Cornelia MORRIS (Nov 1844 – Before 1920) 19 Sep 1900 Greene Co, Virginia
• Emma F. JOLLETT (1 Feb 1863 Greene Co, Virginia - 10 Apr 1945 in Shenandoah, Page, Virginia) &  Andrew Jackson COLEMAN (29 Jul 1858 Greene Co, Virginia – 4 Oct 1947 Shenandoah, Page, Virginia) 26 Nov 1880 Greene Co, Virginia
• Laura E. JOLLETT (30 May 1865 Greene Co, Virginia - 30 Jul 1947 Shenandoah, Page, Virginia) & William J. SULLIVAN (13 Jan 1866 – 22 May 1942 Shenandoah, Page, Virginia) 14 Jan 1886 Greene Co, Virginia
• Leanna (or Columbia Ann) JOLLETT (14 Mar 1867 Greene Co, Virginia - 20 Sep 1936 Greene Co, Virginia) & James Mitchell KNIGHT (9 May 1866 Greene Co, Virginia – 16 Feb 1942 Greene Co, Virginia) 1 Mar 1885 Greene Co, Virginia
• Mary Frances JOLLETT (10 Jan 1870 Greene Co, Virginia - 22 Feb 1950 Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia) & Walter Beriah Sylvester DAVIS (12 Sep 1867 Rockingham Co, Virginia - 31 Oct 1934 Shenandoah, Page, Virginia) 11 Feb 1890 in Greene Co, Virginia
• Sarah Catherine Sallie JOLLETT (11 May 1872 Greene Co, Virginia - 7 Jul 1944 Washington DC) & George Thomas CLIFT (Sep 1865 Virginia - ) 30 Mar 1891
• Victoria Elizabeth JOLLETT (19 Mar 1878 Greene Co, Virginia - 2 May 1944) & Decatur Bainbridge BREEDEN (15 Sep 1877 – 27 Sep 1952 Washington DC) about 1902
• William Isaac JOLLETT  (Jan 1880 Greene Co, Virginia - Jul 1903 Newport News, Virginia)
• Ulysses Finks JOLLETT (26 Jan 1883 Greene Co, Virginia - 30 Jan 1931 Baltimore, Maryland) & Sadie Janiero LAMB 23 Nov 1903 Greene Co, Virginia

5. Francis M. SHIFLETT ( 1844 Greene Co, VA - )

6. Jeremiah SHIFLETT ( 1847 Greene Co, VA - )

7. 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

• William Layton MORRIS ( 1874 Greene Co, VA - 03 Feb 1895) & Ida Mary DAVIS  09 Dec 1890
• Upshur MORRIS ( 1875 – 1891)
• Addie MORRIS ( 27 Mar 1876 - Apr 1901) & Henry ARMENTROUT
• Lemuel Belvin MORRIS ( 16 Dec 1877 - Oct 1947) & Emma C. UNKNOWN 1906
• Marvin Tollie MORRIS ( 07 Aug 1878 Greene Co, VA – 1943) & Virginia RHINEHART
• Ethel MORRIS ( Jul 1881 - after 1940) & Peter DAVIS 1908 Greene Co, VA
• Vessie Lelia MORRIS ( 15 Feb 1883 - 06 Mar 1950 Fairfax, VA ) & Paul Edgar RHINEHART
• Margaret Elizabeth “Maggie” MORRIS ( 13 Sep 1884 - ) & Unknown WILLS
• Blanche Cornelia MORRIS ( 27 Feb 1887 - 25 Dec 1968 Greene Co, VA) & Levin P. SMITH
• William Gordon “Bill” MORRIS III ( 12 Feb 1891 - 09 Jul 1968 Greene Co, VA) & Dorothy SNIVLEY

8. 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

• Ida Belle MORRIS (15 Oct 1871 Greene Co, VA - 02 Apr 1917 Greene Co, VA) &  George Allen KNIGHT 11 Jul 1894 Greene Co, VA
• Francis Monroe MORRIS ( 21 Jul 1873 Greene Co, VA - 10 Aug 1936 Albemarle Co, VA) & Ludelia MORRIS 28 Dec 1899  Greene Co, VA
• Leviston Ervin MORRIS ( 01 Mar 1874 Greene Co, VA - 25 Dec 1957  Albemarle Co, VA ) & Roberta Ella MORRIS 28 Dec 1899 Greene Co, VA
• Altie Zora MORRIS ( 02 Dec 1876 Greene Co, VA - 29 Dec 1954) & Charles PERKEY  23 Dec 1902 Greene Co, VA
• Mary Ann MORRIS ( 02 Dec 1878 Greene Co, VA - 18 Jun 1947 Greene Co, VA) & James Charles SULLIVAN 19 Sep 1900 Greene Co, VA
• John Paul MORRIS ( 30 Mar 1880 Greene Co, VA - 21 Dec 1916 Greene Co, VA)
• Rhoda Green MORRIS ( 17 Nov 1882 Greene Co, VA - 22 Apr 1902 Greene Co, VA)
• Columbus Abell MORRIS (02 May 1884  Greene Co, VA - 20 Apr 1964 Pennsylvania) &  Elizabeth Bessie COLLINS 1913
• Sylvester E. MORRIS ( 22 Feb 1886 Greene Co, VA - 12 Nov 1967 Charlottesville, VA ) & Nettie Jane MORRIS 05 Aug 1930 Greene Co, VA
• Myrtle Nelson MORRIS ( Feb 1887 Greene Co, VA - 01 Mar 1970 Gordonsville, VA) & m1) Iola CRAWFORD ; m2) Anna COLLIER  05 Aug 1930 Greene Co, VA
• Willie Lee MORRIS ( 27 Feb 1889 Greene Co, VA - 15 Jul 1918 France)
• George Washington MORRIS ( 1892 Greene Co, VA - 1892 Greene Co, VA)
• Julia Catherine MORRIS ( 02 Apr 1893 Greene Co, VA - 01 Jun 1979 Alexandria, VA) & George C. GILMER 03 Jul 1918 Greene Co, VA
• Eveline Marie MORRIS ( 12 Mar 1895 Greene Co, VA - 26 Jul 1976 Fairfax, VA ) & Robert Lee COLLIER 22 Jun 1922 Albemarle Co, VA
• Mabel Alice MORRIS ( 12 Dec 1897 Greene Co, VA - 27 Jun 1966 Baltimore, MD) & Isaac Jackson “Jack” RICE

9. Victoria SHIFLETT ( Mar 1854 Greene Co, VA - before 1930) & Ambrose VERNON 26 Dec 1875 Greene Co, VA

• Ira McClellan VERNON ( 1876 Greene Co, VA - ) & JoAnn Josie MARSHALL  27 Jan 1898 Greene Co, VA
• Madie VERNON ( 1878 Greene Co, VA - )
• Unnamed VERNON ( Mar 1880 Greene Co, VA - )
• John F. VERNON ( Oct 1881 Greene Co, VA - )
• Lucy Ann VERNON ( 13 Jun 1884 Greene Co, VA - 03 Feb 1972) & Beauregard George SNOW  23 May 1906 Greene Co, VA

10. George W. SHIFLETT ( 20 Apr 1856 Greene Co, VA - )

11. Unnamed SHIFLETT ( Dec 1856 Greene Co, VA - 10 Mar 1857 Greene Co, VA)

© 2015, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.