CHRISTIAN-SKELTON HISTORY AND GENEALOGY • By T. H. BAILEY Kingsport, Tennessee 1964 \( A NORSE SEA. KING AWAAGAlLEY "TO LIVE IN HEARTS WE LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT TO DIE." CONTENTS Frontispiece, Title Page, Photo and Autograph, Variation of Spelling Given and Pet Names, Introduction, Christian History and Genealogy -·---·····---·-···--- ·····--·- History of Dan, and bits of Ancient History Origin of the Name Christian, ····-----·--··---·-------·-----·--·-----·-···----------·---- 9 Christian Coat of Arms and Motto-··-·-···· ......................... -··-·•··- 13 History of Ireland ·········-·-•···•············--•-·· ....... ....... ......... .. 13 Joh n Ty Ier ...... __ ... ___ . ______ .. _... _____ ..... ____ . _______ . __ ... ___ . ___________ . __ .. _.... ___________ .. _ 22 Thomas Christian of Charles City County, of Virginia .... 23 Thomas Christian I. The Immigrant, and His Children 25 Aerial Map of Goshen and Christians Bend (Photostat) Virginia Wills {1632-1800) ················-•·····-····•··-·•··•- .... _... 42 Marriages and Births in Goochland Coun·ty, Virginia ·-·-··--·-----·····-···- 43 Lewis Christian, the first to Hawkins County, Tenn· .............. _ 44 Wills, Christians ···••·······••··--·----·-··--·---·--------·----- .. ••·••--····----·-··--··•·······--- 48 Marriages, Hawkins County, Tenn. (Christians) ........................... 61 Christian and Skelton Marriages, Hawki'is and Scott Co., Va. 66 Gran-ts and Deeds, Hawkins County ............................. ···············- 69 Genealogy of Lewis Christian, first to Hawkins County .. 87 Skelton Coat of .A,rms . __ ............. ······-·-·· ...... ---··-·--·----------··--·--·----- 165 The Skelton Charts (Photostat) .... ............................................... 168 Skelton Families ............................................................................ 171 Origin of the Name Skelton or Shelton . .... .. .. _............. 173 The Sheltons (Skeltons) in England .......... ·-·-· ····--·-··--------···-----·---·-·---' 77 Bohun of Midhurst {37 Edward !II) ... ·······-····-··--··--·-·-· ------···············--'96 Skelton and Shelton. Two Distinct Virginia Families...... ........ 198 Tennessee Marriage Records . ...... ............... ............ .. ..208 Amherst Countv Vi ro in ia in· Revclution (Wills, Marriages, Tax Lists, Deeds, etc ............................................. _. ..222 Some Early History of the Families ............................................. 228 The First Sheltons - Skeltons in Ame--ica (James the Founder) ........ 238 John Shelton, (Chilton or Skelton) ...................................................... 242 Mis ce 11 a ne o us Re co rd s .... ____ . ________ ... ______ . __ . ___ . __ . __ . _____________ . _. ________ . _. __ . __ 244 Granger Cla ;bourne and Hawkins County Records ...................... 253 Captain Richard Shelton of Amherst County, Va ....................... 256 William Skelton, Pension Papers •and \A/ill of Hawkins County --··••··257 Alexander Skelton's Veteran Record {Photostat Chart) ................ 264 John Skelton of Hawkins County (Genealogy) ......... ···········- ....... 256 James Skelton of Hawkins County (Genealogy} .............................. _285 Many given names are locally cut short for pet names as: Margaret-Peggy-Maggie-Pegg. Martha-Matt-Patsy Mary-Polly-sometimes Mollie. Sarah-Sally. Anna-Annie-Ann. Frances-Frankie-Fanny. Elizabeth-Eliza-Liza-Lizzie-Betty-Betsy-Beth. Jean-Jane Susannah-Susanna-Susan-Sue-Suzzie. Daniel-Dan-Danny. Joseph-Joe-Jos. James-Jim-Jimmie-Jas. William-Will-Bill-Willie-Wm. (Dock) John-(Jack) Charles-Charley-Chas. Thomas-Tom-Thos. Robert-Robt.-Bob. Samuel-Sam. Abbreviations and meanings as many Genealogists use: Sic-as found. Ibed-the same. s.p.-sine Progency or without issue. Asterisk-foot note. b.-sometimes used for born. d.-died. circ.-around or near that time. Figures and letters in parenthesis or Italics ( ) used at the head of families denote generations. INTRODUCTION About 45 years ago some friends and I were talking about things in general, when m~ friends began talking about their Ancestry-their grandfathers and great grandfathers. I finally remarked that I didn't know my grandfather's name on either side. One of my friends in surprise exclaimed, "What!"-and jokeingly made an ugly remark. I hung my head for a moment and said, ''Well, I don't know, but I am going to find out, beginning right now." I began thinking just how did I come to be here? Who, where, when and how did I get here and know so little about it. Inasmuch as the Christian-Skelton families are scattered all over the United States, and very few records are being kept, we have been gradually losing contact with even our nearest kinfolks with the result we do not know what relation we are to each other. After giving this some thought, it weighed heavily on m~ mind and I felt constrained to give serious consideration to these conditions; not only for our own benefit, but for future genera­ tions. I feel that it will be an appreciated inheritance. The purpose of this writing is not to furnish history for the general public, but primarily a collection of information concerning only the families, relatives and friends. We have no intention of searching for persons of prominence, wealth or achievements, and boastfully claiming kin to them; neither are we trying to "Separate the goats from the sheep" (If there is one goat in the flock, I am IT-the "Scape-goat") . In my efforts to give to my people an ancestral and genealog­ ical background, I have studied thousands of official and court records-law-suits, Wills, Deeds, tv1arriages etc.; family Bibles, cemeteries and many other records. Some of our present generation have shown a lack of interest in this research, but many have expressed their appreciation and others have given considerable assistance. I have relied upon the word of mem,bers of a few of our local and present families, but beyond this, I had to take documental records found at county SPats, State Capitols and libraries scattered over the eastern part of the United States. Hundreds of counties have been visited personally, in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mary­ land, New Jersey, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas and other states. I I have had access to most of the large libraries in State Capitols and others; Library of Congress; Census records, Veterans records, Pension records and other history in the National Archives at Washington, D. C. Wills, deeds, and marriage and other records in the above mentioned counties and states have contributed liberally to these records and made it possible to connect our lines back to the immigrants. Much credit must be given to others; especially to the late Mrs. Mildred Campbell Whitaker, of Missouri, who has given us the records of the Shelton-Skelton families in England and Ireland and the early immigrants to Virginia. This is a wonderful piece of work, and is copied in part in this book. I have given more time and study to the early history and origin of these family names than to the present families which are now representatives of every state in the Union; many thousands of whom I do not know and cannot find. I have tried to get a back-ground for these families, who, if they wish, may trace back two or three generations and connect. I have had some criticism from a few people who have not given it a thought; even some who have thought it little short of sinfulness. But my Bible teaches that we should give an account of our stewardship, and has as much to say about genealogy as anything else. Moses gave us the direct genealogy from the be­ ginning to Abraham, which covers a period of more than 3000 years. Genealogy is found all thru the Bible; read it, it is Biblical. Genealogy is not easy to compile, and less easy to understand by the laymen who have not made it a study; but must be studied as any text book to get a clear picture of what is meant to be conveyed. "Our fathers in a wonderous age, Ere yet the earth was small Insured to us ·an heritage, And doubted not at all That the children of their hearts Which then did beat so high, In later times should play like part For our posterity." -Kipling Should we forget them? II "Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers." -Proverbs 17 :6. "Like leaves on the trees the race of man is found Now green in youth, now withered on the ground; Another race the following spring supplies; They rise successive and successive fall : So generations in their course decay; So flourish these, when those are passed away. -Homer Take a dozen jig-saw puzzles With fragments jumbled together Place them in their proper huddle For they will fit in no other. When each is in its respective place Then the picture is clearly done. You've ,von your genealogical race, And can tell which is your own. Worthy ancestors and desc~ndants •are those who have bettered the race by their serving as individuals. Ancestry is not an end, but a beginning. It is like the old proverbial needle in a haystack; but I contend that a needle in a haystack can be found if every straw is removed one by one. Every genealogist has a way of his own in studying family history. I have studied many of these histories and have selected what I think is the best points, and most easily understood. Since this work is primarily for the families interested, and not especially for other genealogists, I have refrained from using unfamiliar terms and abbreviations too often used by specialists. My method