Stephen Shelton

Introduction:  P8 Stephen SHELTON (1809) is my dad's great grandfather. The chain goes like this, starting with me: Sheila Diane Shelton GIBSON; Leonard Aaron SHELTON (1914); Stephen Morton SHELTON (1877); John SHELTON (1839); & Stephen SHELTON (1809). This is a difficult biography to write because there is much conflicting information on Stephen (even including his name which some say is "Stephen C.") I believe this Stephen's full name is Stephen Shelton, that he was born in March of 1809 in North Carolina. I explain more about this later in this bio.

I inherited three types of information on him; none of them have supporting documentation. The first type is the family group sheets other family members have given me. I have seen about six of these ... not all information matches. The second type of information is in the form of family stories have been passed down verbally; again facts disagree. The third type of info I have are biographies. Stephen was a Mormon (member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, aka LDS) pioneer. Some of his female descendants were members of the International Society of Daughters of Utah Pioneers ^(DUPI), which engages in writing biographies about pioneer ancestors.

I've seen 4 or 5 of these on Stephen. They all seem similar, even with "cookie-cutter" phrases. None of the biographies include any sort of supporting documentation or verification. Again, there is much information which does not agree. I have seen variations in Stephen's birth date, birth place, name spelling, death date & more. Some of it I know is incorrect. For example, it is recorded that Stephen's sister married Patrick HENRY, the patriot. These two people did not even live in the same era.

Date of Birth:   I have found no primary source record of Stephen's birth. Original Nauvoo Temple records of 10 January 1846, prepared under the direction of the temple recorder, William CLAYTON, list Stephen on a page with eleven other men. All of the other eleven have full day-month-year birth information recorded. Stephen, listed eleventh of the twelve, was the only one with no DAY written. Because the entry after Stephen's reverted back to including the day, I suspect that Stephen may not have known the exact day he was born.

The Nauvoo record shows, "Stephen SHELTON born March 1809" (with no day). I have examined a microfilmed copy of the original document. I have not yet found the source of information which shows Stephen to have been born on the 9th day of March; but the date is used fairly consistently. Stephen's application to become a Mason shows that he was 35 years old in September of 1844. A document found for Provo City, Utah, prepared 20 March 1855 by Patriarch Emer HARRIS said "time of birth unknown." Stephen, is on the U.S. Federal census at Hancock County, Illinois, as being between 20-30 years of age in 1840. (If you try to look it up thru Ancestry.com, you won't find it. The transcriber recorded his first name as "Ephraim" instead of Stephen.)

Place of Birth:   This is an 1814 map of North Carolina. (Click on the map to enlarge it (167K).) "North Carolina, America" is as close as I have gotten so far from original records for Stephen's place of birth. Records at the Provo City Cemetery in Provo, Utah, have Stephen as having been born in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The sexton's office told me this information had been given to them by a contributing family member. I was especially curious because I had visited this same cemetery about a year before and the "Buncombe" info was not there then. While it is still possible or maybe likely that Buncombe is the place, I am not sure. Since the 1810 Buncombe County census is the only one in North Carolina where a Stephen Shelton was listed as father of a male infant, I have explored Buncombe as a possibility. If I ever find proof to the contrary, I will provide this information to the Provo City Cemetery sexton's office.

Stephen C.???:   Some more recent family records show Stephen as "Stephen C". Since I had not seen that in any of Stephen's records, I was curious. Finally, I found a TYPED, transcribed, copy of Stephen's Nauvoo Temple record showing him as Stephen C. Probably this is source. I had not seen it before because I had been using microfilmed copies of the original documents. The C. is clearly NOT in the originals. I have no idea why they appeared in the transcribed copy. I continue to investigate this.

Stephen's Parents, Brothers & Sisters:   An LDS document in Provo, Utah, confirmed family records which say Stephen's parents are named Stephen (b. abt 1780) and Elizabeth (b. abt 1782). This is the only record I have found giving the parents' names which actually came from Stephen's era. Family stories say Stephen's dad was a doctor & that he had two families. Elizabeth, Stephen's mother, did not know about the other family until Stephen was about to marry his half-sister. Stephen's father, (Dr.?) Stephen, stepped in and stopped the wedding. Family stories also say that Stephen (b. 1809) came from a very large family.

Nancy BROWN & Her Parents:   Although I have never seen documented evidence, family records tell us Stephen first married Nancy BROWN, a mixed-blood Native American. Her father is called John BROWN (b. abt 1790, some say he was a chief). Nancy's mother is also called Nancy (b. 17 May 1792). There are several versions of a certain family story in which the teller usually says, "There is supposed to be a gypsy woman or something like that in the family..."

Having listened to the stories plus doing some research on my own, I have come up with my version of this story. This is what I think: Nancy BROWN's mother, Nancy (b. 1792), was not Cherokee by blood; but she was raised by a Cherokee family.

Apparently, a certain Cherokee warrior had a very beautiful horse that was greatly admired by an Ogala (Oglala?) Sioux Indian. The Sioux kept making offers to trade for the horse but the Cherokee kept refusing. Finally, the Sioux said, "What would you take for the horse?" and the Cherokee pointed to the baby daughter of the Sioux family & the exchange was made. Our Nancy BROWN's mother, Nancy, was actually Sioux, supposedly traded for a horse and was afterwards adopted and raised as Cherokee. This Nancy married (Chief?) John BROWN (b. abt 1790), a mixed-blood Cherokee. By "mixed blood" I mean he descended from Native American AND European folks who had intermarried, no doubt, in more than one instance. (Note: This is purely speculative right now!)

Stephen SHELTON & Nancy BROWN:   Stephen's wife, Nancy BROWN, may have been half Ogala (or Oglala) Sioux and half mixed-blood Cherokee (See preceding paragraph.) It should be noted that most family records say she was "half-breed Cherokee". Through this part of my story I am going by undocumented family stories and records. From Stephen's (b. 1809) discovery that he was about to marry his half-sister comes a bit of a clue. In Dr. Stephen's (b. abt 1780) second family there was a daughter fairly close to Stephen's (b. 1809) age. That does not necessarily place her in the same area; but it is likely they were fairly near to each other geographically. Sometime between 1809 and abt 1825 Stephen (b. 1809) moved from North Carolina to Missouri.

It is my opinion that Stephen Shelton (b. 1809) & Nancy Brown (b. abt 1811) met and married in Missouri. Dates in family records indicate Stephen & Nancy were a very young couple. Records show they had the following children: William (b. abt 1826); Jewell (b. abt 1827, died before 1830); Samuel (b. abt 1828); Andrew Jackson (b. abt 1829) & Mary Ann (called Polly, b. 24 Dec 1831. The family is on the 1830 U.S. census at Harmony Township, Washington County, Missouri.

Stephen SHELTON & The Mormons:   Stephen's wife, Nancy, died about 1833. I don't have anything on Stephen until he became a Mormon. He was baptised into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in May 1837. It is written that Stephen married Abigail Harris while he was at Nauvoo, Illinois; but I have not yet found a record of this marriage. Abigail had also been married before to a Mr. Goforth. They divorced. Abigail came into her marriage to Stephen with a baby daughter named Nancy Sorilda. Stephen adopted and raised Nancy as his own. Stephen also came into this marriage with children from his marriage to Nancy Brown.

The family lived on Wells Street in Nauvoo. Stephen helped to build the Nauvoo Temple. I have read that Stephen was in Company D of the Mormon Battalion. I have seen instances where Stephen's records mixed up with Seibert C. SHELTON and am wondering if this is one of those times. In the battalion histories I find Seibert but not Stephen. Stephen was at Mt. Pisgah, however. The camp at Pisgah started on 18 May 1846. For most, Pisgah was only a way station. Captain James ALLEN of the United States Army arrived at Pisgah on 1 Jul 1846 to raise a battalion of Mormon soldiers to fight in the war with Mexico. With the loss of so many men who went with ALLEN, the pioneer migration from the Pisgah camp was delayed for a season. It seems the Shelton family stayed even longer since two of Stephen's sons are recorded as being born there. (This is also a pretty good indication Stephen was not away for very long if he was with the battalion.) Joseph SHELTON was born at Mt. Pisgah Sept 1846, as was Hyrum SHELTON in 1849.

On 29 Mar 1855 Stephen SHELTON (b. 1809) & Abigail HARRIS (b. 1818) got their patriarchal blessings (Vol 210, Pg 119). It is written that Stephen (b. 1809) was true and faithful until he died in August of 1855 in Provo, Utah. Susan W. EASTON wrote that Stephen (b. 1809) is buried in Midway. However, Margaret Shelton HAIR wrote that her Grandfather Stephen SHELTON (b. 1809) was "buried on the Provo bench. They are farming and have fruit trees on the graves today. It is not a regular cemetery." (That was written in August 1949.) Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah states that Stephen (b. 1809) was a bodyguard to Joseph SMITH & that he was "sealed to the Prophet's family." Sexton records in the Provo City Cemetery have Stephen's place of birth as Buncombe County, North Carolina. We have proof of the North Carolina part but that's all we have. Information given to the Provo Cemetery about the birth & burial locations is from contemporary descendants living in the region.

Susan W. EASTON records a second sealing to spouse as 13 Mar 1856 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. Also according to EASTON (referencing members of the Mormon Battalion info I also question), Stephen (b. 1809) died on 10 Aug 1857. This is not correct. Abigail (b. 1818) married again in 1856, after Stephen died. Stephen SHELTON & Abigail HARRIS were sealed to each other on 10 Jun 1872 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah. Abigail was living then. Her son (and my great grandfather), John SHELTON (b. 1839), was proxy for his dad, Stephen SHELTON (b. 1809). (Early Church Records 820145). John McKee FAUCETT also married Abigail HARRIS (Goforth Shelton, b. 1818). Their son, Charley Edward FAUCETT, was born on 10 Dec 1856 in Provo, Utah. Dad says Charley was cheerful and was well liked. My Aunt Clara remembers helping her mother care for Uncle Charley in his old age, with things like helping to prepare his bath water.

28 Jan 07 Contributed by Cousin Connie Berrett. Thanks Connie!!

STEPHEN SHELTON A record copied by Margaret Kinsey Midway June l8, 1945

My grandfather Shephen Shelton was born, we believe, in North Carolina and was married to Nancy Brown and from that marriage there was born four children namely- William, Jackson, Samuel and Mary (called Polley).

He had one brother we know of named Joseph or Joel. His wife Nancy died when Polley was one year old. His wife's mother was named Nancy Brown also. She was a Doctor woman and would ride for miles around on horseback to visit her patients with her saddle bag full of medicine. From what we know of her, she was an outstanding and grand person.

After Nancy's death Grandfather married Abigal Harris and from that marriage the following children were born namely- John, Elizabeth, Martha Jane, Joseph, who died at the age of 21, Hyrum Stephen and Abigal. Grandmother Abigal Harris had one child named Scrilda, who was afterwards adopted by Grandfather Shelton. Shephen Shelton went through all the mob drivings and troubles of the early day Saints in Missouri and Illinois and was a body guard to the Prophet and was out on guard the night he was assasinated. He was true and faithful until he died.

Grandfather was an accomplished musician. He made his own violin which played at all entertainments and dances of that time. When grandfather decided to go across the plains to Zion, his three eldest boys, William, Jackson and Samuel refused to go and they ran away and hid and the family never heard from them again. Stephen Shelton started across the plains in 1847 but did not reach Utah until 1849 or1850, where he settled his family in Provo. He was a shoemaker and raised his own flax to tan the leather and make shoes for the people. He lived in Provo about five years where he died about 1855.

His wife Abigal was born May 6, l818, in Tennessee and died February 20, 1889, at Vernal Utah. John Shelton, her son, brought her body to Midway for burial in the Midway Cemetary. John Shelton my father, was the oldest child to come to Utah. When his father died he worked hard to support his mother and six children until they grew up.

Another contribution from Cousin Connie Berrett; 28 Jan 07 Thanks again!

STEPHEN SHELTON By Margaret Shelton Hair August l949

My grandfather, Stephen Shelton, was the son of Stehpen Shelton and Elizabeth Shelton. Time of birth unknown but was at North Carolina, America . He had two wives, one, Nancy Brown, who was part Indian and mother of three or four sons and one daughter. The daughter was born December 25, l831 in Nauvoo. She died in Midway, August 3, 1901. Averyone called her Aunt Polly. Her name was Mary Ann. Everyone who knew her loved her.

Grandfather's second wife was my grandmother, Abigal Harris. She was the mother of eight children, seven of them were Grandfather's. They joined the LDS church in the early days of the church. Grandfather was a body guard of Joseph Smith. The night Brother Joseph and Hyrum were killed, he was guarding the city. He said he never saw such a night in all his life. Grandmother was sick that night and Mrs. Robert Duke was taking care of her. Aunt Martha was born just before grandfather came home.

Grandfather and Grandmother went to the Nauvoo Temple and had their endowments January 10, 1846. Grandfather and Grandmother came to Utah in 1850 in the Melvin Ross Ox Team Company. They settled in Provo and went through all the hard times of a new country, as all the Saints went through. My father Stephen Shelton 3rd, told me he did not have a shoe on his feet until he was sixteen years old. Then it took him three years to get the shoes or books, I don't know which, one year he worked to pay for the cow hide, one year for the tanner and one to get them made, then he could hardly wear them. He said he could skate on ice barefooted and not feel it on his feet, but his hands would freeze.

They had cows which farther herded in Provo canyon. Grandfather was a farmer. I don't know just what year he died but it was sometime after 1855. Both Grandfather and Grandmother had their patriarchal blessings given March 29, 1855, by Emer Harris. I have both blessings. Grandfather was burried on the Provo bench. They are farming and have ftuit trees on the graves today. It is not a regular cemetary.

I have tried to get the number of his descendants. These are the numbers I have but there are many more: children 11 or 12; grandchildren 37; great grandchildren 140; great great grandchildren 319; fourth great grandchildren 59; fifth great grandchildren 13. There are many others I haven't heard from. Grandfather and Grandmother were sealed in June 1872, when uncle John was married. We had the children sealed for him and my grandmother June 30, 1941.

Uncle Charley Faussett told me grandfather was a son of a large family. He had 14 brothers and doesn't know how many sisters. His father was a doctor. One of his sisters married Patrick Henry. Her name was Sarah Shelton. Jim and I did their work in the temple.

Stephen Shelton (1809)

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