Person Page - 244

     Benjamin Royal I was born a 1699. He married Rachel Townsend a 1724.

     Sally East was born a 1786 at Accomack Co, Virginia. She married Josiah Speight on 28 Apr 1806 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

     Robert Bayly II (of Pokomoke) was born c 1725 at Accomack Co, Virginia. He married Mary Massey c 1750.

      In 1741 Robert Bayly bought 100 acres (part of tract A147) from Jedidiah Ewell and Charles Stockley and in 1787 Robert's namesake son Robert and Mary Bayly sold 73 acres to George Corbin.

Robert was listed as a head of household in the census of in 1800 at Accomack Parish, Acc Co, VA. He was shown as Robert Bayly Sen., Poko (meaning Pocomoke Neck). He was over age 45, with one male age 0-10, one male age 10-16, one female age 26-45 and one female age 16-26. He had no slaves.

Moody Miles detailed sources:

[S572] Ralph T. Whitelaw, Virginia's Eastern Shore (A History of Northampton and Accomack Counties), p. 1263 & 1313 (1741 - Jedidiah Ewell to Robert Bayly, part of A147) and (Tract A169 - Alexander Massie part).
[S578] Jody Powell, 1800, 1810, 1820 Accomack Co, VA, Census.
[S688] Barry W. Miles & Moody K. Miles III, Accomack Co, VA, Wills & Administrations, 1800-1860, p. 36 (will of Sarah Bayly of Robert).

     Mary Massey was born c 1725 at Accomack Co, Virginia. She married Robert Bayly II (of Pokomoke) c 1750.

     Comfort Parks was born in 1768 at Accomack Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of Mark Parks I and Tabitha Evans. Comfort Parks married Robert Russell I, son of Milby Russell I and Abigail Lewis, on 5 Mar 1790 at Accomack Co, Virginia. Comfort Parks died on 25 Nov 1844. Her estate was probated on 27 Jan 1845 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

     Comfort Crowson was born a 1794 at Accomack Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of Levin Thomas Crowson and Rosey Drummond. Comfort Crowson married John Fluhart on 2 Feb 1815 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

     Levin Thomas Crowson was born a 1772 at Accomack Co, Virginia. He married Rosey Drummond a 1793.

     Rosey Drummond was born a 1776 at Accomack Co, Virginia. She married Levin Thomas Crowson a 1793.

     Unknown Power was born a 1809.

     Bridget Power was born c 1836. She was the daughter of Unknown Power.

     Benjamin West was born c 1778. He married Margaret "Peggy" Russell, daughter of George Russell I and Sarah Bonnewell, on 7 Jun 1800. Benjamin West died in 1836.

     (2nd wife of Samuel Russell) (Unknown) was born c 1730. She married Samuel Russell, son of George Russell and Sarah Milby, c 1754.

     Abigail Lewis was born c 1730 at Accomack Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of Sheriff John Lewis III and Elizabeth Melson. Abigail Lewis married Milby Russell I, son of Samuel Russell and Anne (Unknown), c 1748.

     Robert Russell was born c 1753 at Accomack Co, Virginia. He was the son of Robert Russell I and Scarburgh Parker. Robert Russell married Esther "Hessy" Bayly, daughter of Robert Bayly II (of Pokomoke) and Mary Massey, c 1785. His estate was probated on 29 Oct 1821.

      On 29 Jun 1801 in Accomack Co, VA Robert and his wife Esther sold William Fitchett six acres adjoining the land of William Wise, Roger Miles, Edward Hickman dec'd, and Richard Hickman the son of Edward.

Robert was mentioned in a will on 3 Feb 1814 Accomack Co, VA. In her will Sarah (of Robert) Bayly named Peggy Snead; Ann Savage, daughter of Robert; Savage Crippen; Narcissa and John Crippen, children of Savage Crippen; Nancy Russell, daughter of Robert and Esther Russell; John K. Evans; Hessey Trader, illegitimate child of Diadamey Trader; and Isaac Hickman, son of Richard & nephew of Henry Hickman.

     Robert Russell I was born c 1720 at Accomack Co, Virginia. He married Scarburgh Parker a 26 Nov 1751. His estate was probated on 30 Oct 1770 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

     Scarburgh Parker was born c 1718 at Accomack Co, Virginia. She married Henry Custis II, son of CPT Henry Custis I and Tabitha Scarburgh Custis, b 1736. Scarburgh Parker married Robert Russell I a 26 Nov 1751. Scarburgh Parker died b 30 Dec 1761 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

     Sarah Bayly was born c 1763 at Accomack Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of Robert Bayly II (of Pokomoke) and Mary Massey. Sarah Bayly died on 26 Sep 1818 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

      Sarah Bayly was listed as head of household over age 45 in the 1810 Accomack Parish, Accomack Co, VA census and listed with her was 1 female age 16-26 and 3 slaves.

Sarah made a will on 3 Feb 1814 at Accomack Co, VA. "She was shown as Sarah Bayly of Robert. To Peggy Snead my house & lot during the time of her present widowhood & ... To Ann Savage, daughter of Robert, my old Negro woman Mary. To Savage Crippen my Negro men Peter & Abel. Abel to stay at Mr. Parradice's as long as he wants him & the money to Narcissa & John Crippen, children of Savage Crippen. To Nancy Russell, daughter of Robert & Esther Russell, my Negro woman Patience & ... To Narcissa Crippen my Negro girl Rose. To John Crippen my Negro boy Levin. To John K. Evans my Negro man George. To Hessey Trader, an illegitimate child of Diadamey Trader, $20 for schooling. To Isaac Hickman, son of Richard, my house & lot & a chest purchased of the estate of his uncle Henry. To the 2 children of Savage & Rosey Crippen, Narcissa & John Crippen … & all the residue. Friends Savage Crippen & Samuel Crippen executors. Witnesses: Samuel Crippen & Sarah Crippen. Sarah's will was proved with James Ailworth & William E. Wise securities. Her estate was settled on 27 July 1818 at Accomack Co, VA. 1 Oct 1814 (Invy), Oct 1814 (Sale), Jun 1818 (Order to Audit), 27 Jul 1818 (Rec'd) - Samuel Crippen Admr. Negroes Mary, Peter, Abel, Rose, Levin & George. Legacies to Ann Savage, Savage Crippen, Narcissa Crippen, John Crippen, John K. Evans, Nancy Russell, Isaac Hickman & Peggy Snead.

     Henry Custis II was born c 1716 at Accomack Co, Virginia. He was the son of CPT Henry Custis I and Tabitha Scarburgh Custis. Henry Custis II married Scarburgh Parker b 1736. Henry Custis II died b 26 Nov 1751 at Accomack Co, Virginia. His estate was probated on 26 Nov 1751 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

     Robert Russell was born c 1792 at Accomack Co, Virginia. He was the son of Joshua Russell and Jane Thornton.

     Thomas Russell was born c 1795 at Accomack Co, Virginia. He was the son of Joshua Russell and Jane Thornton.

     Sally Russell was born c 1797 at Accomack Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of Joshua Russell and Jane Thornton.

     (Unknown) Judith Bloyce was born c 1645. She married Stephen Cannon, son of Edward Cannon and Ann (Unknown), c 1665.

     Sheriff John Lewis III was born a 1687 at Accomack Co, Virginia. He was the son of John Lewis II and Elizabeth Rodolphus. Sheriff John Lewis III married (1st wife of John Lewis III) (Unknown) c 1695 at Accomack Co, Virginia. Sheriff John Lewis III married (2nd wife of John Lewis III) (Unknown) c 1719. Sheriff John Lewis III married Elizabeth Melson, daughter of John Melson II and Mary Smith, b 5 Nov 1723. Sheriff John Lewis III died a 1768 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

      John Lewis III, our 7th great grandfather, sold land on 18 Aug 1741 in tract Good Luck, Wicomico River, Somerset Co, MD to George Dashiell, our 7th great grandfather on a different line. It was noted that Elizabeth Lewis, mother of said John Lewis, was in her lifetime seized in fee of a parcel of land upon the north side of Wicomico Creek, adjoining the land of said George Dashiell, a little below Pass Indishe Creek, devised the same by her last will and testament dated 30 Sep 1731, to said John Lewis in fee, to be sold by said John and the value paid to Josiah Lewis, grandson of testatrix. John therefore conveyed the aforesaid parcel of land, containing by estimation 45 acres, and known as "Good Luck," to George Dashiell for a consideration of 22 pistoles.

In 1768 John Lewis senior sold 20 acres on the east end in tract A108 on the north side Hunting Creek, Accomack Co, VA to William Young; the land was later sold by the Young family to Richard Drummond.


Moody Miles detailed sources for John Lewis III:

[S819] Mark C. Lewis, Mark C. Lewis Genealogy Research Files.
[S623] M.D. & Jean M. Mihalyka William R.M. Houston, Colonial Residents of Virginia's Eastern Shore (Whose Ages Were Proved Before Court Officials of Accomack and Northampton Counties), p. 63.
[S570] Stratton Nottingham, Accomack Co, VA, Wills & Administrations, 1663-1800, p. 24 (will of Roger Ternall, wife Ann).
[S570] Stratton Nottingham, Accomack Co, VA, Wills & Administrations, 1663-1800, p. 38 (will of Francis Makemie, wife Naomi).
[S570] Stratton Nottingham, Accomack Co, VA, Wills & Administrations, 1663-1800, p. 252 (will of Josiah Lewis, wife Joice Lewis).
[S829] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1719-1724, Volume 14, p. 177.
[S570] Stratton Nottingham, Accomack Co, VA, Wills & Administrations, 1663-1800, p. 114 (adm of John Lewis to Fenn Lewis).
[S570] Stratton Nottingham, Accomack Co, VA, Wills & Administrations, 1663-1800, p. 122 (will of William Lewis of Hunting Creek, wife Anne Tabitha).
[S819] Mark C. Lewis, Mark C. Lewis Genealogy Research Files, Russell Family file, George Russell chart.

     Elizabeth Melson was born c 1702 at Accomack Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of John Melson II and Mary Smith. Elizabeth Melson married Sheriff John Lewis III, son of John Lewis II and Elizabeth Rodolphus, b 5 Nov 1723.

     Stephen Shell was born c 1759. He married Susan D. (Unknown) c 1781. Stephen Shell died c 1836 at Charles City Co, Virginia.

      Because Charles City Co was among the many Virginia locations which suffered catastrophic record losses during the Civil War, researching and assembling a Shell family genealogy has been most difficult and would have been impossible without careful research and analysis by Charles City Co historian Judith Ledbetter. The one starting fact was minimal: a woman named Fannie Shell, age between 26 and 45, was living in New Kent Co in 1810 along with a female age 10 to 16 and a male age less than 10 years old, when no other Shells lived in the county. The one family tradition was a boy named George Shell arrived in Richmond, VA apparently alone at a young age.

Largely due to use of the Shell surname in neighboring Charles City Co and because they lived near the Southalls who married into the Shell line, Steven Shell was presumed to be the progenitor of the Shells in this family line. Stephen Shell and his wife Susan D. are most likely the parents of Marston D., John and William L. Shell, and the grandparents of George D. Shell. Stephen and Susan likely had at least two other children, given the apparent gap in birth dates among their known children. Stephen was likely the son of William, Thomas or Adam who were living in Charles City Co and were noted in county records between 1766 and 1773; a further discussion of Stephen's possible lineage concludes this biographical section.

Stephen's property was located on The Glebe Lane and bordered on "the Glebe," Fishing Run and land owned by Joseph Vaiden. Furnea Southall's plantation located on another part of The Glebe Lane, bordered another of Joseph Vaiden's properties called "Poplar Springs." Stephen's presumed grandson George married the granddaughter of Furnea Southall. The 1810 federal census shows Steven lived close to Turner Southall; Turner Southall junior and his wife Mary were the parents of Rebecca Hunt Southall who married George D. Shell, although that union took place many years later in Richmond, VA.

The personal property tax for all men age 22 and above for New Kent, King William, Surry, Prince George, James City/Williamsburg, King & Queen, Henrico/Richmond, Goochland, Chesterfield, Caroline and Charles City only shows Shells living in Charles City and Chesterfield counties in 1787. The Chesterfield listing was for a John Shell who died in 1799. The listing for Charles City was interesting because apparently Stephen was taxed twice: once as working perhaps as an overseer for Benjamin Edmondson, who owned Weyanoke plantation and paid Stephen's tithe, and a second time when Stephen paid the tax on himself, one slave, two horses and 6 cows; a more careful study of the personal property and land tax lists would be required to be certain these two Stephens are the same man. Stephen was also enumerated on the 1787 Slave List with one slave.

Stephen and his wife Susan were not wealthy. In the 1790 Tax List Stephen Shell was listed with 100 acres. The Shells lived on 100 acres acquired before 1798, the date of the earliest surviving Charles City Co deed book. In 1800 Stephen was enumerated with 100 acres land on the real estate tax list. In 1802 Stephen mortgaged his land and his female slave to William Graves because he could not pay his over 55 pound debt to Benskin Hopkins, owner of nearby Mattahunk plantation and several river landings. Stephen was unable to sign his name on the mortgage document. Stephen was still being taxed on the entire 100 acres in 1820, so Stephen either paid off the mortgage or borrowed money from his son William to pay the balance.

William lent Stephen money at some point because the settlement of Stephen's estate decades later shows $164.50 principal on a bond was due to William in 1817 and went unpaid. By 1821 when Stephen sold 50 acres to his son, William had apparently already become part-owner of a portion of his father's land; hence the following phrases in the deed: "...corner between Joseph Vaiden, William and Stephen Shell...between William Douglass and said Shells...between Douglass and Stephen Shell...between Henry Timberlak[e] and said Shell...north of said Shells dwelling house...." Whether William was also living in Stephen Shell's home is unclear from this description.

In the 1820 census Stephen was enumerated with a household of seven: one male under ten (possibly George D. Shell even though George should have been age 13); one male over age 45 which would be Stephen; two females age 26 to 44 which could possibly include both his daughter-in-law Fanny Shell arrived back in Charles City Co from New Kent Co and the unknown woman who was living with Fanny in New Kent Co; two females over age 45 which would include Stephen's wife Susan and possibly Elizabeth Shell, an unmarried woman who may have been Stephen's sister; and one female slave over age 45 who was likely Mourning. Mourning was also possibly the slave who lived with Fanny Shell in 1810 in New Kent Co, VA. In 1829 Stephen was exempt from the slave tax, likely because Mourning was over 54 years old. That Fanny was an unmarried daughter of Stephen and Mary is unlikely because she would have appeared in county bastardy records.

Stephen's household was enumerated on the Charles City Co census as including a male age 70 to 79 who would be Stephen; two females age 30 to 39 born between 1800 and 1809; one female age 60 to 69 born between 1770 and 1779 who could possibly be either his wife Susan or a sister Elizabeth; two male slaves age 10 to 23; and one female slave age 36 to 54 who would be Mourning.

Both Stephen and Susan died about 1836 when their son William was apppointed to administrator their estates. On 28 Oct 1836 their personal property was inventoried, appraised and settled. The estate included: pine table, walnut table, table, old [pie] safe, looking glass, candle stand, upstairs chest, old chest and box, bedstead and hanking reel, five bedroom sets consisting of feather beds and furniture, half bushel measure, peck measure, a case and bottles, knives, forks, cups, pair of cards (likely to straighten cotton or wool), loom and vertical slays warping bars, spinning wheel, two dishes, eleven rush bottom chairs, pair of sad irons, pots and pans, two pot racks, grid iron, mortar and pestle, very old stone pots, large iron pot, small pot and spider, small pot and oven, spit, pail, tub, one lot of wood ware, one lot of old barrels, one lot of old iron, pair of grub hoes and wedges, pan and hoe, white cow, brindle cow, red cow and the very old negro woman named Mourning. The inventory was recorded 16 May 1837 by their son William as the administrator.

Exhaustive searches of Charles City Co and New Kent Co records showed Shells living in these two contiguous counties from 1658 through the time of Stephen's birth, but how these Shells may relate to Stephen Shell is unknown because of the lack of primary records. If John and William were Stephen's sons, his sons' names suggest Stephen's possible decendancy from John and William Shells. The following hypothetical family alignment is based on records cited further below:

1st generation in Charles City Co:
Clement/Clomint W. Shell (birth estimated 1625) was likely the first Shell in Tidewater Virginia; lived in Charles City Co (CCC); may or may not have been the grandfather of John Shell of New Kent Co below.

2nd generation: is as yet unknown

3rd generation in Charles City Co:
John Shell (birth estimated 1675) was the possibly the first Shell in James City/New Kent City counties and was possibly the grandson of Clement Shell. He was noted in James City Co in 1714. Although it could have been his namesake son, John Shell was noted in Charles City Co records in 1729 when John Goodall of Westover Parish, Charles City Co sold John Beasly, of the same, 119 acres with houses where John Shell formerly lived and bounded by the Chickahominy River, ship landing and a brick house with land belonging to William Tyree. This sale was witnessed by Geo. Norvill and Isaac Williams; Norvell [sic] witnessed a Harwood deed with John Southall in 1728 from which this researcher inferred Norvell, Harwood, Shell and Southall likely lived close to each other because they witnessed each other's legal documents in 1728-1729. John Shell possibly had, among other children, these two sons:

4th generation in Charles City Co:
--John Shell (birth estimated 1700) The name is noted in Charles City Co records until 1773 but it is difficult to divide the court activities of the different John Shells between each other, so the above legal actions may have belonged to this John Shell.
--William Shell (birth estimated 1700) a wheelwright who built and repaired wooden wheels; married to Eliza; living in New Kent Co in 1728-1729; witnessed with Edward Jackson the verbal will of Nicholas Mosier on 5 Dec 1728 in Charles City Co; living in Charles City Co (CCC) beginning in 1737 and deceased by 1745.

5th generation in Charles City Co:
--Thomas Shell (birth estimated 1720) noted in CCC records 1745 - 1772
--John Shell (birth estimated 1725) John senior's 1773 will notes wife Elizabeth and a crosscut saw suggests carpentry may have been a family trade. Only son Adam is included in John's will so other children possibly deceased but likely had a son John because the will refers to the will's signer as John senior.

6th generation in Charles City Co:
--William Shell (birth estimated 1740) noted in CCC records 1766 - 1770
--Thomas Shell noted in CCC record in 1772
--Adam Shell (birth estimated 1740); noted as son of John above who died 1773

7th generation in Charles City Co:
--Stephen Shell (birth estimated 1760 noted in CCC records 1787 - 1836
--Elizabeth Shell (1771-1854)
--Susan (_____) Shell (1785 - alive in 1850)

With this many Shell progenitors from the 1600s and 1700s in Charles City Co, Shell descendants would be expected to be noted in the later 1700s and 1800s records, but they were not. Reasons for this possibly include the poor economic status of the Shells and their lack of literacy as well as destruction of records by Union forces. Specific Shell records are recounted here in case any of these individuals are proved in the future to be ancestors of Stephen:
--1658: Clomint/Clement W. Shell was in Charles City Co court records. He could not sign his name. Served on a drowning inquisition as one of 13 men in 1658. Orphan William Greene bound to him (1661-64 CCC court orders, pg 342)
--1728: In Charles City Co there was a William Shell who proved a will in 1728 and a deed was concluded in 1729 for 117 acres and houses "where John Shell formerly lived" bounded by the Chickahominy River, ship landing, and Brick House land now belonging to William Tyree and renamed Eagles Nest.
--1714 -1773: This time span indicates two John Shells are noted in these court records. In 1714 mentions Goodale's land possessed by John Shell in west side of Chickahominy River, James City Co. In 1729 mentions Goodale's land in Westover Parish, now part of Charles City Co where John Shell formerly lived. John Shell was paid by the Charles City Co court for attending to a mad tinker in 1737. He was in in Charles City Co court in 1740, in 1746 to receive a deed from Edward Goeing, in 1752-1755 for debts including one arrest, and again in 1773. John Shell senior's 16 Nov 1773 will notes son Adam and wife Elizabeth. He wills his cross saw, long gun, crop and land to his son; the cross saw implies he was in the carpentry field. His wife Elizabeth and friend William Holdcroft to be executors. John could not sign his name. Witnesses: Allen Brown, John Holdcroft and (__?___) Holdcroft. Proved _?_ Dec 1773. A Robert Holdcraft was a buyer at the later sale of Marston Shell's estate.
--1737-1746: William Shell was in Charles City Co court once or twice a year for almost a decade. William Shell was a wheelwright who had William Bettingham bound to him as an apprentice from 1737 to 1741 by the church, implying the youth was an orphan. William's court appearances during 1737-1745 included debts, witness responsibilities and jury duty. His will was presented and recorded by his executor Eliza Shell in 1745 and in Apr 1746 an inventory of his estate was ordered recorded.
--1745, 1748, 1754, 1757 and 1772: Thomas Shell was in Charles City Co court.
--1746: A William Shell was subsequently paid in 1746 for a Charles City Co court appearance; it is unclear if this was a second William Shell -- although no one in the court records was identified as being a junior -- or if it was a posthumous court payment.
--1766 & 1770: Another William Shell was in Charles City Co court records and could not sign his name.
--1771: Elizabeth Shell born circa 1771, perhaps the spinster sister of Stephen; after his death she was living in 1850 with the Jackson family in Charles City Co as was a John Shell age 20. Elizabeth died 6 Aug 1854.
--1772: Thomas Shell witnessed the sale of a mare in Charles City Co and could not sign his name.
--1785: Susan Shell, born circa 1785, and living with the Lacy family in 1850 in Charles City Co. It is unknown whether Shell was her maiden or married name. Susan could be another sister or sister-in-law of Stephen's.
--1794: According to a 17 Dec 1794 Richmond, VA record, a G. Shell was to be paid for rations and ammunition.
--1812: Francis born ~1812; married Ann E and had son John. In 1850 CCC census.

Detailed sources not copyable to text document:
--Charles City Co, VA 1790 tax list, http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/VirginiaTaxListCensuses/CharlesCity/1790Land/15.jpg Stephen Shell and several Southalls and Vaughans were listed but document no longer available online.

     Susan D. (Unknown) was born c 1760. She married Stephen Shell c 1781. Susan D. (Unknown) died c 1836 at Charles City Co, Virginia.

      Susan D. could have been a daughter from one of the Marston families living in New Kent or Charles City counties because her son was named Marston. According to Judy Ledbetter, generally speaking, the Marstons originated in James City Co, migrated to New Kent Co and then moved on to Charles City Co. The likelihood is that if Susan was a Marston she too might have been born in New Kent Co, VA.

Susan also could have been from one of the neighboring families, such as the Southalls, Vaidens or Douglasses, the latter which would explain why two of her great-grandchildren had Douglass as a part of their names.

The information on Susan dying in the same year as Stephen came from a secondary source (a book on deaths and burials) and the source was a county minute book.

     William L. Shell was born c 1792. He was the son of Stephen Shell and Susan D. (Unknown). William L. Shell married Nancy Wilkins, daughter of Robert Wilkins and Ann (Unknown), c 1813. William L. Shell died in 1865.

      William L. Shell is postulated to be Stephen Shell's son because of an accident which occurred in Stephen Shell's neighborhood and because he administered Stephen's estate.

On 20 Jun 1809 William went canoeing on the Chickahominy River with Benskin Hopkins' sons James and George Benskin and John Punter. Benskin Hopkins owned Mattahunk plantation north and east of Fureau Southall's plantation and near the Stephen Shell home. The boys departed from one of Hopkins' river landings and the water was about sixteen feet deep. James, who was said to be "now nearly come to manhood," recklessly caused the canoe to tip over, resulting in his brother and John Punter drowning. William could not swim but managed to grab the canoe and barely made it out alive. Based on the description of this incident, William is estimated to have been born in 1794.

In the War of 1812, William served a short stint of about three months in the 52nd Regiment of the Virginia Militia, likely without seeing action. In 1821 William bought 50 acres from his father Stephen Shell. At some point William made a loan to his father; the principal was due and went unpaid in 1817, resulting in William who was the administrator of Stephen's estate recovering the principal for the loan in 1836.

William's farm comprised 183 acres which was likely his father's 100 acres plus additional land he purchased. After his death, in 1870 a chancery case was brought by his widow to compel sale of his land and division of the proceeds among his named heirs.

     Unknown Webb married Drenda Kaye Winslett, daughter of Thomas 'Tom' Edward Winslett and Betty Howard, a 1985.