SHIELDS Genealogy
Descendants of Robert and Nancy Stockton Shields
Our traditional history of the Shields family is that our forefathers came from Scotland into northern Ireland early in 1600, and the descendants were living in Londonderry during the siege of 1685, which lasted 105 days, many died at starvation, and the war under James second lasted until 1690.
Two traditional stories have come down to us from my grandmother Nancy Agnes Shields of how her grandmother told for other terrible food conditions during the siege, that rats sold for one-dollar apiece. Also the pathetic story a little Lad (living with the great grandmother) who had discovered a bunch of "greens" near a wall, after gathering them he returned to the door and was killed. While she grieved sorely for the child yet, "she was never so glad as anything in her life has to have all the greens herself." From these traditions, our branch of the Shields could not have come to America before 1690.
This Scotch ancestry is confirmed by another line of Shields at Bombay, New York whose forefathers came from Scotland into Northern Ireland, County of Kaven, in early 1600
In "Shields History" by John A. Shields, we find from the records a Pennsylvania and Virginia, that John, James and Thomas Shields came from Pennsylvania, Chester County, into Rockingham County, VA.
Garret and Goodpasture History give the marriage of William Shields and Jeanette Parker in Kent County, MD. in 1692 as the parents of James, Thomas and John mentioned by John A. Shields from the "The Chalkley Records of Virginia," as "large landowners." The death of William, the father in 1741 by a following log while helping to erect a house for John is traditional history in the descendants of William Shields, one of the 10 brothers, and father of Nancy Agnes Shields, my grandmother.
Garret and Goodpasture History also give James, Thomas and John, sons of William and Jeanette Parker Shields as land holders in, at that time, Augusta County, VA. James died in 1749 leaving two sons: John and Robert. The later it is mentioned especially as serving as a revolutionary officer all to the war. He married Nancy Stockton in 1761. They had twelve children (1 died in infancy), 10 sounds and one daughter lived to maturity.
Stockton Genealogy
Davies Stockton and his wife Sarah came from the north part of Ireland in early 1700, settling first in Lancaster County, PA. Later in 1734 they came into Rockingham County, now Albemarle County, VA. He was given a grant of 400 acres, of land in that County on March 12, 1739. Their children were Richard, William, Thomas and Hannah. The later married Adam Godylauch of Albemarle. Davies Stockton died in 1769.
Richard Stockton, like his father obtained a grant of 400 acres of land on July 22, 1745 and later other grants. His wife's name was either Anne or Agnes. They had five sons and 8 daughters: David, Richard, Thomas, John and Robert; Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth, Deborah, and, Winifred, Jemima and Nancy. Nancy married Robert Shields in 1761.
Descendants of Robert and Nancy Stockton Shields
Robert and Nancy Stockton Shields moved with their family to Sevier County, Tenn., then a part of NC. Soon after the close of the war of 1783 or very early in 1784
Jeanette (or Janet) oldest child and only daughter of Robert and Nancy Stockton Shields was born March 7, 1762. The family given in the order of their birth are as follows: Thomas, 1763; Richard, 1764; David, 1766; William, 1768; John, 1769; James, 1771; Robert, 1772; Joseph, 1775; the missing brother in 1778; Jesse, 1782.
Jeanette married Joshua Tipton, son of General John Tipton. Their children were Rhoda, John and Agnes. In April 1793 a call came for volunteers to put down a threatened raid of the Indians. Among those responding were Joseph Shields then a lad of 18 and Joshua Tipton, his brother-in-law. After starting, Joshua rode back and requested Jeanette to name the expectant baby, if a boy, for him if he failed to return. His premonitions were correct; they were ambushed by a band of Cherokee Indians April 18, 1793. Joshua was killed and Joseph Shields was severely wounded. The child was named Elizabeth. What trying days of anxiety were those, testing ones faith and trust in God.
Of Jeanette's family, Rhoda married her cousin, Joshua Shields. Their four children were John Tipton, Nancy, Thomas and Arnet. We have the name of only Nancy's children and those of Arnet's. Nancy became the wife of John Lindsey, his second marriage. Agnes Tipton married William Edwards in 1811; this may have been a relative of Susan Edwards, wife of David Shields.
Elizabeth married John Denbo in 1818. Jeanette moved with her family and others of the Shields relatives, among them her brother James Shields, into Southern IN in 1807, settling first in Harrison County at Brindley Ferry later moving into Jackson County and establishing a fort near the present city of Seymour Co., IN.
John Tipton, only son of Joshua and Jeanette Tipton, married his cousin Jeanette or Jennie Shields, daughter of John Shields.
Descendants of Joshua and Jeanette Shields Tipton
1. John Shields Tipton
1. Rhoda Tipton married Joshua Shields
1. Agnes Tipton married William Edwards
1. Elizabeth Tipton born 1793 married John Denbo, 1818 paragraph
Descendants of Robert and Nancy Stockton Shields
(continued)
Janet, Thomas, Richard and David, children of Robert and Nancy Shields were married soon after the family settled in the fort, as the dates of children born to them are given in 1784 in 1785. Thomas Shields, oldest child of Robert and Nancy Stockton Shields was born in 1763 and married Rhoda (last name not known). He was the only member of his family killed by the Indians. The story as told by our line of the family says he was killed a while plowing corn on his land near the fort. Tradition from those still living in the vicinity of the fort, is that he was shot from ambush on Burch Creek while getting water in his sugar tree orchard with which to boil for sugar. His two little boys, one of whom was named Joshua, saw their father fall and the Indians rush up to scalp him. While the Indians were thus engaged, the boys, eight and ten years of age, unhitched the old blind horse from the sled used for hauling the sugar water and mounted the horse and started for the fort over some of the rougher country in Tennessee. Only by Omnipotent power could this poor old blind horse have reached the fort without falling. Thus the lives of these two brave the boys were saved, they moved to Indiana with Jeanette and family in 1807 or 1808.
Joshua, son of Thomas, one of these brave boys, married his cousin, Rhoda Tipton a daughter of his Aunt Jeanette and Josh Tipton. Upon settling in Harrison County, Indiana, he enrolled in the militia and served in the war of 1812. He was with General Harrison at Tippecanoe where he was wounded in the arm. He died in Cass County, Indiana, Jan. 22, 1852. His wife Rhoda died July 4, 1837. Their children, John Tipton, Nancy, Agnes, Thomas and Arnet of whose descendants we know nothing save of Nancy and Arnet. Nancy married John Lindsey in 1833. Arnet married Jane Irwin, May 11, 1837. Their descendants will be found in the history written by J. A. Shields.
Descendants of Joshua and Rhoda Tipton Shields
1.Thomas Shields m. Rhoda, last name not known
2. Joshua Shields m. Rhoda Tipton
3. Nancy Shields m. John Lindsey, (2nd m.) in 1833
4. Rhoda Lindsey b. April 19, 1834 m. Samuel O'Hara
5. Phoebe O’Hara m. February 17, 1852 m. William Pratt went to New York
5. Martha O’Hara m. a Mr. Crantz
5. John O’Hara, m. daughter of John Graham, Brock, Nebraska
5. Tipton O’Hara, Spokane Falls Washington.
5. Elizabeth O’Hara m. Mr. Berry, Union Mills, IN.
5. Etta O’Hara m. John Pranty, lives in Nebraska.
4. Elizabeth Lindsey. Dec. 14, 1836 m Charles Cole.
5. Adda Cole
5. Helen Cole m. R.C. Wills, Valprasio, Ind.
4. Jane Lindsey b. May 7,1839 m. Isaac Bascom (1st husband); Douglas Edmonson (2nd husband)
5. Agnes Bascom m. Elmer Neudigate, Hoisington, Kansas
6. Fanny Neudigate
5. Charles Bascom
5. Jacob Bascom
5. John Bascom
4. Mary Lindsey b. May 7, 1840 m. Joseph Holmes, Sept. 1865
5. Calvin Milah Holmes b. Sept. 11, 1867 m. Ida. Wagner (1st wife); Elizabeth Keys (2nd wife)
5. Charles Tipton Holmes b February 12, 1870 m. Elizabeth Grogan.
5. Sarah Caroline Ann Holmes b. June 27,1867 m. Elmer Crawford Dec. 20, 1893 at Valley Center, Kansas.
6. Mary Malissa Crawford b. August 8, 1874 m. Jay L. Johnson May 20, 1917, Alva, Oklahoma.
7. George Elmer Johnson b. March 13,1929
6. Edna Winnifred Crawford b. July 19, 1900 m. John Collier, Dec.13, 1919, Alva, Oklahoma.
7. Lena Ruth Collier b. May 25, 1920
7. Eldon Dwight Collier b. June 20, 1921
7. Eula Marie Collier b. July 25, 1931
6. Paul Earnest Crawford b. Nov. 30, 1903 m. Clara Crusinbery July 26, 1933, Alva Oklahoma.
6. Ida Bertha Crawford b. Nov. 30. 1905 m. George Collier, Dec. 31, 1927, Enid, Oklahoma.
7. Jimmy Carl Collier b. Oct. 8, 1931
6. Ora Crawford b. Dec. 2, 1908, Augusta, Oklahoma.
6. Leona Alice Crawford b. Aug. 29, 1912 m. Harold Stevens, April 14, 1931, Fairview, Oklahoma.
7. Billy Lynn Stevens b. July 26, 1931
7. Carolyn Ann Stevens b. Sept. 29,1933
6. Ruth Myrtle Crawford b. June 3,1915
6. Daisy Carrie Crawford b. Dec. 3,1918
4. Arnet Lindsey b. Dec. 15,1841 m. Josephine McLain, daughter of Joseph McLain who was killed in the Battle of Antietam.
5. John McLain Lindsey
5. Charles Lindsey, North Platt Nebraska
5. Ada Lindsey m. Joseph Dunn, North Platt, Nebraska
6. Three children (names unknown).
4. Wingate Lindsey m Louise Campbell
4. Jesse Shields Lindsey m. Emma Shark
5. Arnet Lindsey, Los Angeles, California
DESCENDANTS of ROBERT and NANCY STOCKTON SHIELDS
(Continued)
Richard, the second son was born in 1764. We have no record as to whom or when he was married, but his son Robert's birth is given as Oct. 13, 1784, indicating that their marriage must have taken place soon after the family settled in the fort. If there were other children we have no record of them. Robert, son of Richard married Margaret Emmert, who is three years his senior and survived him 12 years. Robert was a farmer and a justice of the peace. His death occurred Jan. 11, 1850. Robert &. Margaret Emmert Shields resided at Cades Cove, Blount County, Tenn. Eleven children were born to them. Arnett, the last surviving son died in 1915. Arnett and his wife Elizabeth Kitchener or Shields had eight children. They resided, some at Ducktown, Tenn. and others at Colberson, NC as given in J. A. Shields history.
David Shields, known for his size and physical strength, was commonly known as "Big David". Many stories of his physical strength and prowess has come down to how he could hit as hard and dexterously with his left as with his right. Most of the Shields men were six feet tall. David was born about 1766. It is not known who his first wife was. To them was born one son, Joseph, in the year 1785. The second wife was Susan Edwards, a daughter of Robert Edwards, formerly of New York. They were married in 17866. Six children were born to this union.
David went to Kentucky in 1808 and settled near Louisville, engaged in freighting goods by flat boat between Cincinnati and New Orleans. His later days were spent at Athens, Tenn. See John A. Shields history for the descendants of David and Susan Edwards Shields.
From J. A. Shields history.
William Shields 4th son and 5th child of Robert and Nancy Stockton Shields was born about 1768. A youth of 15 or 16 years when they came to the new home across the mountains into NC. William is described as having graven black hair and deep blue eyes, tall, rather slender, lithe and strong. He was feared by the Indians, yet he did not make a practice of hunting them down; neither did he have any deep-rooted haste for them, as did his nephew John Tipton. On one occasion he did not hesitate to precede against them. When he did they gave him wide berth, for he moved with calm, fearless determination. He was a man of highest courage and keen vision, with a quickness of hearing and his skill in Wood's craft, exceptional even among pioneers of the forest. It is said he excelled the Savage in this respect, on his own ground. He is credited with being able to walk through the dry leaves and make no perceptible sound. He could trail an Indian, even in the night and find his way about unerringly without moon or stars to guide him. An adept at imitating the birds were other forest sounds. He could distinguish a Seminole or Cherokee or a friendly Chickasaw as far as he could see him. In the understanding of the Indian character he excelled all his brothers excepting John. David excelled him and physical strength. William was hard working; he was neither better nor worse off then the average of his neighbors. He was especially devoted to his family. He was married to Margaret Wilson in 1789. A daughter of Samuel Wilson, a pioneer of East Tenn. Served in the Revolution and was prominent in the campaigning against the Indians and one of the leaders of the Tipton faction in the Political feud with John Seiver. William had taken up a claim, broken the sod, and improved it by fencing a few acres and set out an orchard will still living at the fort. They had many thrilling experiences in those days at the fort. One day William and Margaret went out to the claim to gathered peaches, as they went through the gates they noticed moccasin tracks, also the queer actions of the dog. Going further they saw Indians dodging from trees to tree, they of course made hasty retreat, yet William did not fail to put up the bars. Knowing they could not reach the fort before the Indians would over take them they went into a thicket. Margaret was tripped by a fine and fell with the baby in her arms. To quiet the baby she quickly gave it the breast, William held the dogs quiet with one hand while he had his hunting knife ready for action in the other. As he watched, 7 Indians passed by, "huh," he said, "had I known there were but 7, I would have let the dogs loose, they would have handled 2, I could have taken two or three and the rest would haver run."
Another time when the hostile Indians were marauding in the vicinity, William was off guard, an Indian crept within range and was preparing to shoot when one of dogs discovered his presence and gave warning, enabling William to dodge behind a tree just in time.
William moved on his land about 1795, residing there until 1808, going first into Logan County, Ohio and a year later they moved into southern Indiana, living in the fort.
There were nine children born to William and Margaret: Robert, 1790; William, 1792; James, 1794; Elizabeth, 1796; Nancy Agnes, 1798; Samuel, 1800; Rhoda, 1802; Rebecca, 1805; and Jennie or Janet. Nette was born in 1808, all in severe County, Tenn., on Little Pigeon River. About 1813, Margaret the wife and mother passed on. Elizabeth, the eldest, was married to John Lindsey, June 14th, 1814.
He is credited with saving the lives of the members of his party during the first winter, which was spent near the present site of Mandan, North Dakota. It is said that by diplomacy he kept the Mandan Indians in good humor through his skill as a blacksmith by fashioning hatchets, knives and implements which were traded to them for Corn and provisions so much needed when the little party found itself destitute and facing starvation. His married, etc. will be given later.
James Shields, the seventh child of Robert and Nancy, was born in Rockingham County, VA in 1771. He married to Penelope White a sister of James White the founder of Knoxville and a cousin of Hugh Lawson White who was a member of Congress and candidate for president against Andrew Jackson. James and Penelope had two sons and three daughters born in Seiver Cedar County, Tenn.
They moved into southern Indiana in 1808 settling in Jackson County. James with other members of the family along with the Tipton family built a fort just north of the present city of Seymore where they lived for protection against the Indians. James was in command of the fort and won the title of Colonel in various Indian skirmishes in which he led the settlers. In time he was owner of over 1200 acres of land in Jackson County. He was of a social being enjoyed entertaining his friends.
Their oldest son, William, became a member of the Indiana Legislature. Meedy White Shields, second son of this couple was a businessman, also owned large tracks of land and milling interest.
The father, James, passed on Feb. 2nd, 1848; Penelope the wife and mother having preceded him six years. Both were buried in the Riverview Cemetery near Seymour. The Shields homestead is still an interesting Landmark in the vicinity of Seymour.
Robert seems to have been the 8th child of Robert and Nancy Stockton Shields. He was born in VA 1772 and married Sabra White, sister of his brother James’ wife, Penelope. To them were born 11 children. He kept his family to Floyd County, IN in 1808. Robert was a soldier in the war of 1812 under General Harrison. In 1815 he removed to Sevier County, Tenn. where the Shields family settled after coming from VA. Here he owned much valuable land.