The Skaggs-Files

Our earliest documented Shipley ancestor is Richard Shipley.(1) He was born about 1775, probably in Maryland. Some Shipley families migrated into the overmountain area of North Carolina towards the end of the Revolutionary War, but we have no known documentation connecting our Richard Shipley to any of these families. Some researchers speculate that he descends from Adam Shipley of Maryland.(2) Richard may have resided in Sullivan or Washington County, in what is now Tennessee, prior to his arrival in what is now Rhea County, Tennessee, USA.

He married Hannah Retta Hughes.(3) She was born about 1780 in Tennessee. It is believed that the Hughes family was Welsh. Hannah's name may have been one word, such as: Henrietta, Hanretta, Hannahretta, Hannaitta, etc. Hannah Retta is the form used by one granddaughter. Richard and Hannah had at least four sons, all of whom were born in Tennessee. Benjamin Franklin, Sr. was born in 1805, Nathan was born about 1807, William Park was born about 1812, and Richard, Jr. was born in 1814. Probably, there were other children in this family, most likely daughters.

By 1819 Richard was in Rhea County, Tennessee, USA where he is documented as paying taxes.(4) The tax information indicates he didn't own land or a slave and that his sons were less than 16 years of age. He probably died during the latter part of 1819. He was killed by Abraham Mitchell, near the home of John Payne.(5) This was the first homicide in Rhea County. His estate was put up for sale in early 1820 and brought $277.56 ½ . $255.43 ¾ was disbursed to settle the estate and Hannah received $22.12 ¾. Richard's burial place is unknown. Hannah Retta/Henrietta married William McAllister May 8, 1828 in Hamilton County, Tennessee. She died November 15, 1858 or possibly 1857 in Tennessee.

The inventory of Richard's belongings was:(6)

…2 horse creatures, 7 head of cattle, 11 head of hogs, 1 rifle gun, a shot pouch, 175 bu corn, 1 bead & some furniture, 1 pewter dish, 5 plates pewter, some delf ware, some forks & knives, 1 bar share plow, 2 shovels, 3 good swingle trees, 2 hoes, 1 pr gears, 1 single chain trace, 4 blade slacks, 2 pots, 1 oven & lid, 1 large cow hide, some leather, 1 hand saw, 2 augers, 2 chisels, 1 hammer, 1 pr pot hooks, 1 saddle, 2 falling axes, 4 piggeons, 1 churn, 3 barrels, 1 flax wheel, 1 coffe pot, which was ordered to be sold…

Chrispian E. Shelton and John Bailey exhibited the following account of the sale of the estate of Richard Shipley decd:(7)

9 head of hogs $14.06 ¼, 1 churn 83 cents,
1 barrel & pail $1.03 15.92 ½
1 gun 1 flax wheel $11.02, 1 coffee pot &
axe $1.58 ¼ 12.60 ¼
1 pr gears 1 pot & 1 oven $5, 1 tub of meat
1 dresser & ware $%.13 ½ 10.13 ½
1 bed & furniture $1,75, 1 ax 1 tub of flax seed
$2.78, cow & calf & horse $41.50, 1 pot
1 rawhide &3.25, 1 bar share plough $4.25 53.53
115 bu corn in different quanities $58.50,
plough saw & other tools $3.57 ½ 61.87 ½
1 mare 1 cow & calf some flax $44.00
1000 bu of fodder $10.00 54.00
1 barrel 1 hoe 1 single chain $1.12 ½, 2 cows
& 1 heifer $34.37 ½ 35.50
Some farming materials & 1 iron square $1 1.00
1 Note of hand on John Myers with some
Credits a balance due on said note 33.00
2 August 1820 $ 277.56 ½

Monday the 6th August 1821, Henry Collins and Azariah David, esquires, were appointed to settle with the Administrators of the Estate of Richard Shipley deceased:(8) (Note: there are errors in the addition.)

Settlement of R. Shipley's Estate
Clerk's fees 5.75
C. E. Shelton's Acct 38.75
Buck Sutton 3.25
Hugh McBay 2.75
Leonard Vanderdriff 1.66 ¼
47.15 ¼
Cain Abel 2.00
David Ragsdale 5.37 ½
Abraham Brison 3.00
John Hanna 2.50
Benjamin C. Stout 8.00
20.87 ½
Cain Abel 11.37 ½
John Moyers 46.31 ½
Richard Shipley Note 11.33 ¾
Do to J. Bailey 13.06 ¼
82.10
Do Rogers 30.00
John Baileys services 33.00
Robert Gamble Acct 9.75
Isom Ganns Acct 10.00
Elizabeth Ganns Acct 10.75
John Gambles Acct 1.25
75.75
To Balance Due on Acct 246.93 ¾
8.50
255.43 ¾

Hamilton County, Tennessee was separated from Rhea County in 1819. The four known sons of Richard and Hannah lived in the part of Tennessee that became Hamilton County. In 1828 Nathan Shipley acquired 200 acres of land on the lower side of Opossum Creek. He operated a mill in Bakewell, Hamilton County, Tennessee and the Shipley mill wheel still exists. Benjamin Shipley was a blacksmith in Dallas, Tennessee. Other Shipley families, primarily descendants of Eli Shipley, lived nearby on Sale Creek. Of the 821 people who resided in Hamilton County in 1821, most of them lived in the Sale Creek area.(9) All of these locations are a few miles northwest of present day Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Opossum Creek area where Nathan, Benjamin, William Park and Richard Shipley lived is about 20 miles south of Dayton and 40 miles north of Chattanooga.

Our Shipley family on Opossum Creek had financial and legal problems. Benjamin shot a man during a quarrel and fled to Arkansas about 1839. William Park was murdered or committed suicide in 1843 in Hamilton County. Richard migrated to Missouri before 1843 and later to Iowa. Nathan stayed in Hamilton County, eventually losing all his property at public auction by the end of 1844. The Shipley families of Sale Creek were unaffected by this ordeal and continued to be successful farmers and merchants.

Known children of Richard Shipley, Sr. and Hannah Retta Hughes:(10)

1. Benjamin Franklin Shipley, Sr. was born the 1st of January, 1805 in Tennessee.(11) He died the 26th of August, 1881 in Mulberry, Crawford County, Arkansas, USA.
2. Nathan Shipley was born about 1807 in Tennessee. Nathan died after 1880 in Hamilton County, Tennessee, USA.
3. William Park Shipley was born about 1812 in Tennessee. He was murdered or committed suicide the 25th of March 1843 in Hamilton County, Tennessee, USA.
4. Richard Shipley, Jr. was born the 15th of November, 1814 in Tennessee. He died the 13th of January, 1908 in Clio, Wayne County, Iowa, USA.

Footnotes:

(1) Most information on the Shipley lineage is from a gedcom from R. Cecil Shipley unless otherwise noted. I have footnoted his sources when known. The biography of Richard Shipley and Hannah Retta Hughes was researched and written by R. Cecil Shipley.

(2) "The first permanent settlement in Tennessee was made in 1769 on Boone Creek by Capt. William Bean, who came in that year from Pittsylvania County, Va. His son, Russell Bean, is said to have been the first white child born in the State. Soon after Bean made his settlement, in 1770 and 1771, James Robertson. Landon Carter and others, laid the foundation of the Watauga settlements, which at first were mainly in what is now Carter County. The steady stream of emigrants from the older States, however, soon forced these to overflow into the territory now embraced in Washington and Greene Counties. In 1772 Jacob Brown, with one or two families from North Carolina, located upon the north bank of the Nolachucky River, which up to this time had remained undisturbed by the white man. Mr. Brown had been a small merchant, and brought with him a packhorse loaded with goods with which he soon purchased from the Indians a lease of a large body of land lying on both sides of the Nolachucky. In 1775 he obtained one deed signed by the chief men of the Cherokee Nation, embracing the greater part of the present Washington County west of the Big Limestone, and another deed for the land lying between the Big Limestone and a line drawn from a point on the Nolachucky Mountains north 32 degrees west to the mouth of Camp Creek; thence across the river; thence northwest to the dividing ridge between Lick Creek and Watauga or Holston; thence up the dividing ridge to the rest of the said Brown's land. This land Mr. Brown sold to settlers at a small price. The government of North Carolina, however, refused to recognize the validity of this deed, and continued to make grants in the territory covered by that instrument." Goodspeed's History of Tennessee, The Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1887, pages 797-1,317.
Benjamin Shipley was born in Maryland about 1730, married Kitty Unknown and Elizabeth Unknown, and died in Washington County, Tennessee, USA. Margaret Bean, granddaughter of William Bean, married Elijah Hale Shipley, grandson of Benjamin Shipley (1730). Elijah Shipley migrated to Arkansas about the same time as our beloved Blind Ben (son of our Richard Shipley, Sr.) and both appear on the 1840 census in Arkansas. Some researchers believe Elijah and Blind Ben were related, perhaps cousins. Some researchers believe this Benjamin Shipley (1730) was the progenitor of all Shipley in the overmountain area. However, other researchers believe several members of the Shipley family migrated to the overmountain area. This Benjamin (1730) had a son named Richard who would have been born about the same time as our Richard, but there is no proof that they are the same person.

(3) The death certificate for Richard Shipley, who was born 15 Nov 1814 in Tennessee and died in Clio, Iowa on 13 Jan 1908, clearly states he was the son of Richard Shipley and Hannah Hughes. The informant was Richard Jr.'s daughter, Mrs. Rittie Shipley Preston. Source: Rick Albright, KD6DKC at aol dot com.

(4) Rhea County, Tennessee, USA Tax Lists, 1819-1829, Bettye J. Broyles, Rhea County, Historical and Genealogical Society, Dayton, Tennessee, 1989. (The original 1819-1829 tax lists are among the Barnes Papers in the University of Tennessee Library Special Collection Room.)
Abbreviations
WP white poll
TL town lot
BP black poll
SH stud horse
Page 4. Taxables in Capt W. McGill's Company for 1819
Shipley, Richard 0 Acres, 1 WP, 0 TL, 0 BP, 0 SH

(5) Hamilton County Pioneers, John Wilson, BookCrafters, Chelsea, Michigan, 1998, p. 265.

(6) Rhea County, Tennessee, USA Wills, Inventories, Estate Settlements, and Guardian Reports, 1810-1881, Bettye J. Broyles, Rhea County Historical and Genealogical Society, Dayton, Tennessee, 1989.

(7) Page 139 County Court Minutes: 13 Feb 1820, Richard Shipley. Inventory ordered sold by the Administrator.
Rhea County, Tennessee, USA Minutes Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions February 1820 - February 1821, Bettye J. Broyles, Rhea County Historical and Genealogical Society, Dayton, Tennessee, 1995, August Sessions 1820, Page 75.

(8) Rhea County, Tennessee, USA Minutes Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions May 1821 - February 1823, Bettye J. Broyles, Rhea County Historical and Genealogical Society, Dayton, Tennessee, 1995, Page 14, Page 63.

(9) A History of Hamilton County, Tennessee, USA, James W. Livingwood, Memphis State University Press, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, USA, 38152,1981; p. 4.

(10) Richard is proven as the father for Richard Jr., William Park, and Nathan. Richard Jr. wrote a letter to George Roller Shipley, son of William Park Shipley, and referred to him as nephew. According to John Wilson in Hamilton County Pioneers, p265, Richard Jr. and Nathan were in business together as N. Shipley and Brother in Hamilton County. Benjamin is included as a child of Richard and Hannah based on family naming patterns and associations among these four in Hamilton County. These associations come from Hamilton County deeds, which show them selling land to each other and being witnesses for each other.

(11) Tombstone

Compiled and written by R. Cecil Shipley amended by Susan Kimes Burgess
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research of R. Cecil Shipley as of April 2005:
Several Shipley have immigrated to the American Colonies or America. Seems like the first was a John Shipley who settled in Massachusetts. There was a John Shipley in Van Buren before our Blind Ben settled in Washington County, Arkansas, but I have no idea who he is. I wrote to every Shipley in Crawford County only to discover that I am related to none of them. Also, unrelated Shipley immigrated to Missouri, to Iowa, to Kentucky, to Tennessee, etc.. Of interest to us, Adam Shipley emigrated from England to the Maryland Colony in America. Eventually, Adam Shipley received 50 acres of land for his servitude. Adam married Lois, amassed large tracts of
property, left many descendants, and died before 1698. A large genealogy of the descendants of Adam Shipley is available on the Internet. Today this family is known collectively as the Shipley of Maryland.

Records document that Benjamin Shipley, born about 1730 in Maryland, resided in what is now Washington County, Tennessee, towards the end of the eighteenth century. His son, Nathan Shipley, was an officer of the court and his name appears in many records. Benjamin had a son named Richard Shipley. A large genealogy of the descendants of Benjamin Shipley is available on the Internet. Some persons speculate that Benjamin is a descendant of Adam Shipley of Maryland.

Records document that Eli Shipley owned property in what is now Sullivan County, Tennessee, towards the end of the eighteenth century. A large genealogy of the descendants of Eli Shipley is available on the Internet. Eli was married in Maryland and his first son, Benjamin Franklin Shipley, was born in Maryland. Some persons speculate that Eli is a descendant of Adam Shipley of Maryland. About 1840, several of this Shipley family embarked in several boats and floated down the Tennessee River intending to settle in Alabama. Some of the boats floundered in Hamilton County, Tennessee and the persons in these boats decided to stay in that area. The other boats continued to what is now Limestone County, Alabama. The Shipley who stayed in Hamilton County settled in the area around the town of Sale Creek. These Shipley married the Varner, Crawley, Isles, Aslinger, and Francisco families. After the War Between the States some members of this family moved to McDonald County, Missouri. Today this Shipley family is collectively known as the Sale Creek Shipley.

Court records document that in February 1820 the Rhea County Quarterly Court paid $5 for the disposition of the body of Richard Shipley. Richard was killed in Rhea County, Tennessee, in 1819-1820 by Abraham Mitchell near John Payne's home. This is the earliest proven ancestor of our Shipley family. Some persons speculate that Richard is a descendant of Adam Shipley of Maryland. This Richard Shipley married Hannah Hughes and had several children; including sons, Richard, Jr., Benjamin Franklin, Nathan, and William Parker. Benjamin migrated to Arkansas about 1839 after shooting Andrew McCallie, Richard, Jr. migrated to Iowa about 1840, William died suddenly and mysteriously in 1843, and Nathan remained in Hamilton County and survived bankruptcy. The Shipley from this family lived primarily around the towns of Soddy and Daisy, now Soddy Daisy, Hamilton County, Tennessee. Today this Shipley is collectively known as the Soddy Shipley.

There are several other disconnected Shipley families in eastern Tennessee which can not document ancestry to the Sullivan County Shipley, the Washington County Shipley, the Sale Creek Shipley, the Soddy Shipley, or the Shipley of Maryland. This is a result of lost documents due to wars, nature, and neglect. Some persons speculate that all of these Shipley are descendants of Adam Shipley of Maryland. Some current researchers are using DNA testing to assist in determining relationships among these various lines.

1840 United States Federal Census
Name: E H Shipley
Township: Vineyard
County: Washington
State: Arkansas
Roll: 20
Page: 270
1121210000000
0000010001000

Elijah Hale Shipley is a grandson of Benjamin Shipley, born 1730 in
Maryland. Some persons speculate Benjamin 1730 had a son Richard who may
have been born about 1750 and who may be the father of our Richard Shipley,
Sr.

I have not been able to identify the following family. Whether they had a
relationship with Benjamin or Elijah is unknown to me.

1840 United States Federal Census
Name: John Shipley
Township: Van Buren
County: Crawford
State: Arkansas
Roll: 17
Page: 87
0000100000000
0000100000000

1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Elijah Shipley
Age: 43
Estimated birth year: abt 1807
Birth place: Tennessee
Gender: Male
Home in 1850
(City,County,State): Vineyard, Washington, Arkansas
Page: 421
Roll: M432_31
Enumerated 01 October 1850,
Family 15/15,
Elijah Shipley,43,m,farmer,800,TN, Enumerated on 1840 census as E. H.
Shipley
Margaret Shipley,43,f,TN,
John Shipley,16,m,TN,
William Shipley,14,m,TN,
Jesse Shipley,23,m,TN,
Tolbert Shipley,10,m,AR,
Edmund Shipley,6,m,AR,
Marget Bean,81,f,NC, mother of Margaret Shipley

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: E H Shiply
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1807
Age in 1870: 63
Birthplace: Tennessee
Home in 1870: Prairie, Madison, Arkansas
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Hindsville
Roll: M593_58
Page: 418
Image: 356
Year: 1870

I have not researched nor identified the following families enumerated on the 1850 United States Federal Census in Arkansas.

James H H Shipley Cadron, Van Buren, AR abt 1813 Tennessee
Mary Shipley Cadron, Van Buren, AR abt 1817 Tennessee
Christopher C Shipley Cadron, Van Buren, AR abt 1837 Tennessee

I have not researched nor identified the following families enumerated on the 1860 United States Federal Census in Arkansas.

William P Shipley Bearhouse, Ashley, AR 34 1825 Ireland Male
Martha J Shipley Bearhouse, Ashley, AR 34 1825 Tennessee Female
Josiah Shipley White, Ashley, AR 20 1839 Alabama Male

Henry Shipley Des Arc, Jackson, AR 36 1823 Tennessee Male
Mary Shipley Des Arc, Jackson, AR 35 1824 Tennessee Female
Paralee Shipley Des Arc, Jackson, AR 16 1843 Arkansas Female
Henrietta Shipley Des Arc, Jackson, AR 14 1845 Arkansas Female
Fannie Shipley Des Arc, Jackson, AR 12 1847 Arkansas Female
Jane Shipley Des Arc, Jackson, AR 10 1849 Arkansas Female
Elisabeth Shipley Des Arc, Jackson, AR 8 1851 Arkansas Female
Rose Shipley Des Arc, Jackson, AR 6 1853 Arkansas Female
Marthia Shipley Des Arc, Jackson, AR 4 1855 Arkansas Female
Maria Shipley Des Arc, Jackson, AR 2 1857 Arkansas Female

Delly Shipley Richland, Madison, AR 57 1802 Tennessee Female

James H Shipley Cadron, Van Buren, AR 45 1814 Tennessee Male
Polly Shipley Cadron, Van Buren, AR 43 1816 Tennessee Female
Christopher C Shipley Cadron, Van Buren, AR 22 1837 Tennessee Male
Sarah Shipley Cadron, Van Buren, AR 19 1840 Arkansas Female

Samuel Shipley Vineyard, Washington, AR 32 1827 Tennessee Male
Sarah Shipley Vineyard, Washington, AR 24 1835 Arkansas Female
Elizabeth Shipley Vineyard, Washington, AR 5 1854 Texas Female
John Shipley Vineyard, Washington, AR 3 1856 Arkansas Male
George Shipley Vineyard, Washington, AR 1 1858 Arkansas Male

Jessy Shipley Cove Creek, Washington, AR 33 1826 Arkansas Male
Sarah Shipley Cove Creek, Washington, AR 26 1833 Arkansas Female
Nathan Shipley Cove Creek, Washington, AR 7 1852 Arkansas Male
Henry Shipley Cove Creek, Washington, AR 5 1854 Arkansas Male
William Shipley Cove Creek, Washington, AR 4 1855 Arkansas Male
Joshua Shipley Cove Creek, Washington, AR 1 1858 Arkansas Male

Henry Shipley Fayetteville, Washington, AR 44 1815 New York Male
Ann Shipley Fayetteville, Washington, AR 40 1819 Kentucky Female
William Shipley Fayetteville, Washington, AR 20 1839 Missouri Male
John Shipley Fayetteville, Washington, AR 17 1842 Missouri Male
Smith Shipley Fayetteville, Washington, AR 13 1846 Missouri Male
------------------------------------------------------------
This letter was in the possession of Elizabeth Shipley Collins of Kingsport, Sullivan County, Tennesee. After her death it was given to Marie Nelms, Elizabeth's neice, and descendant of Amanda Roller. Transcribed by Susan Kimes Burgess, May 31, 2005.

Clio, Iowa Mar. 12. 1903
Geo. Shipley.
Bluntsville Tenn.
Dear Nephew,
Not having
heard from you or your family
since 1861. and being desirous of
doing so, I concluded to write to
you. - I am your father's (William P's)
youngest brother. and am now
eighty-eight years of age. In good
health and strong for one of my
age. but almost blind.
If you know of any of your
uncles, except me. if living - or their
families if dead. I hope you will
write and let me know.
I have the following children,
now of nearly and some past middle
age, Benjamin R. living near Clio, Iowa
Mrs. Mary Garton, of Clay township
this county, Richard in Nebraska,
Nancy Ann Hunt in Missouri
of first family - -
Mrs. Etta Owen of Clio - or
near there . second family. - are all now living.
and ages in order given. Write soon
Your Uncle,
Richard Shipley
Clio, Wayne Co. Iowa
*****************************************
Addressed thusly:
Richard Shipley if not delivered
Clio Iowa. return to Bluntsville

Indian Springs R.F. D. #3
Mr. George Shipley
(son of William P. Shipley died about 1843)
Bluntsville
Sullivan Co. Tennessee
******************************************
On the envelope this is written:
"Postmaster, If Mr. George Shipley
or some of his family cannot be found, please open and read and answer.
& obliged
Richard Shipley,
Clio Iowa."