For the past three weeks, we have been looking at the Welsh emigrant, George Taylor and some of his descendants. I have not been able to find out why the little community first known as Patrick Courthouse was officially named Taylorsville (later Stuart) after George Taylor. George Taylor served in the Revolutionary War, but so did many others, including Captain Eliphaz Shelton.
No offense to the Taylors, but I always thought it should have been named Sheltonville or something to that effect, because on July 11, 1791, Captain Eliphaz Shelton executed a performance bond in penalty of 200 pounds (British currency) binding him to convey 18 acres of land to the county for a county seat. On October 10, 1791, he deeded this land to the county. It was located near the center of his 590-acre land grant. The Patrick County courthouse has stood on this land for two hundred years at the head of Main Street. The Shelton home and family cemetery were located at the bottom of Main Street.
On July 21, 1763, Ralph Shelton, Sr. sold his land in Amelia County, and with his wife, Susannah Mary Daniel, and family, he moved west to Halifax County (that area now being Patrick County). There, he purchased 400 acres of land on the South Mayo River from Josiah Leake in 1771. Ralph Sr. had three sons: Eliphaz, Jeremiah, and James. Eliphaz Shelton took the oath of allegiance and was appointed Captain in 1779. Jeremiah furnished supplies to the county militia and James was appointed Captain in 1777.
Colonel Abram Penn was summoned to the aid of General Nathaniel Greene at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse during March 1781. With him marched Captain Eliphaz Shelton and his men. Because of this battle, the British supplies ran so low that it led to the surrender of the British at Yorktown. On February 28, 1784, Eliphaz Shelton received a land grant of 590 acres from Governor Benjamin Harrison for payment of services during the Revolutionary War. This land bordered his father’s land on the north and his brother James’ land on the west.
The progenitor Ralph Shelton died March 1789 and was buried beside his wife, Susannah Mary in the Shelton cemetery at the foot of Main Street. Ralph had lived to see his land included in three counties – Halifax, Pittsylvania, and Henry. Two years later, this same land was in the newly formed county of Patrick.
Eliphaz and his wife, Nancy Ann raised ten children at the home at the foot of Main Street. Next week, we will look at each of the known Shelton children; four sons and six daughters. There are so many descendants of Eliphaz and Nancy Shelton still living in Patrick County, Gilberts; Newmans; Nowlins; Fitzgeralds; Fulchers; Shorts; Edwards; Coopers; Laymans; and the list goes on and on.
On March 13th, 1826, the following obituary appeared in “The Lynchburg Virginian” The original newspaper is held by Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, Virginia, which is located on the second floor of the Lynchburg Public Library.
“At his residence near Taylorsville, in the county of Patrick on the 16th ult. after a protracted and lingering illness, Captain Eliphaz Shelton, passed away in the 86th year of his age. The deceased defended bravely the liberties of his country during the revolutionary war and at the period the excitable Tories so much disturbed the country, he shouldered his musket, and marching in the van, made every possible effort and exertion, both in bravery and skill, to immolate them. Patriotism and an ardent devotion to the cause of his country were the first principles of his character. He who writes this last tribute of respect to Captain Shelton knew him well and he knows that in the various characters of husband, father, master, and neighbor, no one was more indulgent, kind and hospitable. A very large circle of relatives are remaining to grieve his dissolution.”
In the 1970’s, a plat of survey was given to the Col. Abram Penn Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution that showed the 18 acres of land given for the site of the courthouse and the town. The Eliphaz Shelton home and family cemetery are clearly marked on the survey too. These plats had been given to the chapter by a descendant of Eliphaz, James H. Martin, of Bluefield, W. Va. The Colonel Abram Penn DAR chapter voted to donate the plats to the Patrick County Historical Society and Museum.
Here is the dilemma…I can’t seem to locate the actual Eliphaz Shelton cemetery. On page 303 of Tombstone Inscriptions of Patrick County, Virginia, published in 1984, Mr. O.E. Pilson states the following:
“Eliphaz Shelton Cemetery, located at the foot of Main Street in Stuart. Except for a few crude field stones markers with no inscriptions, there is nothing now left of this cemetery. According to Mr. W.R. Shelton, Jr. of Columbus, Ohio, a descendant, the following are buried here: Ralph & Susannah Shelton, parents of Captain Eliphaz Shelton; Captain Eliphaz Shelton, and wife, Ann; Archibald Shelton and wife, Rhoda; Archibald was the son of Eliphaz; Hannah Shelton, oldest child of Eliphaz & Ann; Peany Shelton Sharp, daughter of Eliphaz and Ann; Sally Shelton Nowlin, daughter of Eliphaz & Ann; Frederick Shelton, son of Eliphaz & Ann. There may be others. The remaining undisturbed graves are probably those of the Shelton slaves.”
If Mr. Pilson saw undisturbed graves and crude field stone markers in the 1980’s, where did they go? Ann McConnell is Regent of the Colonel Abram Penn chapter of the DAR, and I’m the Regent of the Patrick Henry Chapter; our chapters would love to honor this heroic man who fought so bravely for the Revolution and gave the town of Stuart its’ start. We would especially love to honor the enslaved Africans buried there.
If anyone can help us locate the cemetery, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you to Joshua Martin, Ron Martin, and Shirlien Belcher for providing invaluable research assistance in helping try to find records for the cemetery. Next week, we will look at the known children of Eliphaz and Ann Shelton.
Woody may be reached at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com or (276) 692-9626.
