John Sheffield (abt. 1728 - abt. 1790)

Born about 13 Dec 1728 in North Carolina [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Nancy (Turner) Sheffield — married 1 Jun 1750 in Duplin Co., North Carolina

Husband of Elizabeth (Graddy) O'Daniel — married 29 Sep 1779 in Duplin, North Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died about 18 Dec 1790 at about age 62 in Duplin, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

John Sheffield is a member of the Sheffield Name Study Project.

John was born about between 1720 and 1734 and it is thought he was born in North Carolina (need proof) ^[1]

He is said to have married Nancy Turner about 1754 (check her father's will for proof ) ^[1]

In the 1767 census, John was in Cumberland, North Carolina.^[2]

The bond date for the marriage of John Shuffield and Elizabeth Graddy was 29 September 1779 in Duplin, North Carolina, United States. This was in Duplin County, North Carolina, The bondsman was Samuel Bowden and the witness was Wm Dickson.^[3]

Marriage to Elizabeth Graddy (need source) Transcribed by Debra Jordan Pate

• September 29, 1779, Marriage Bond between John Shuffield and Elizabeth Graddy State of North Carolina. Duplin County. Know all men by these presents that we John Shuffield and Samuel Bowden both of the County aforesaid are held and firmly bound unto His Excellency Richard Caswell Esquire Governor of the said state the sum of five hundred Pounds Current Money of the said state to be paid to the Said Governor or his Sucessor in office for the use of the State To which payment well and Truly to be made. We Bind ourselves, our Heirs, Executors, and Administrators Jointly and Severally firmly by these presents Sealed with our Seal and dated the 29th day of September Anno Domini 1779.

• The Condition of the above obligation is Such that whereas the said John Shuffield above Bound hath the Day of the date of these presents made application for and obtained Service of Marriage between him and Elisabeth Graddy of the said County (Single Woman) Now if it Shall not happen at any time hereafter that there is any Lawful Cause to obstruct the said Marriage then the above Obligation to be void and of no Effect otherwise to Stand and remain in full force power and Virtue. John (his + mark) Shuffield (Seal) Signed Sealed and
• Delivered in the presence of Samuel Bowden (Seal) William Dickson C. C.

In the 1786 census John was in Duplin, North Carolina.^[4]

Eliabeth and John had the following children per the FindAGrave memorial were: Isham (1780-1847, Bryant (1781-1847), West (1788-1858), Tabitha (1774-1847), Arthur (1790-1864) ^[1] (birth dates vary from what their Wikitree profiles show)

John's will confirms his wife, Elizabeth, and the following children, including the stepson, William Graddy. .:^[5]

1. William Graddy (Elizabeth's son from first marriage)

Children of John and Nancy

1. William B:1745
2. West B:1747
3. Isham B: 1750
4. Ephriam B: 1755
5. WrightB:1758
6. Nancy B: 1766
7. Louisa B: 1768
8. Mary "Polly" B: 1770
9. Bryan B: 1776
10. Catherine B: 1772
11. Tabitha B: 1774

Child of John and Elizabeth

1. Arthur B: 1790

"John Sheffield (Shuffle or Shufield), father of West Sheffield, was a Rev. Soldier and received a bounty grant of land in Georgia for his service. He married Elizabeth Graddy (Widow of William Graddy, by who she had one son, William Graddy, Jr. ^[6]

John Sheffield died on December 18, 1790 in Beautancus, Dublin County, North Carolina, United States.^[7] John's estate passed probate in 1791 in Duplin, North Carolina, United States.^[5] Find A Grave: Memorial #73539481

Will of John Suffield Transcribed by Debra Jordan Pate Book A, p. 427, Duplin Co, NC^{[8] [9]}

• In the name of God, Amen. I John Sheffield of the County of Duplin and State of North Carolina, Planter, being sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory and calling into mind the mortality of the Body the shortness of life and certainty of death, do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following, viz Imprimius.

• First of all, I recommend my soul into the hands of God who gave it me and my body to the dust to be buried at discretion of my Executors hereafter named. And as for the worldly good as it hath pleased God to bless me with I dispose of them as followeth.

• Item, I give and bequeath to my son Ephriam Sheffield 80 acres of land including the plantation he lives on and being part of a tract of 250 acres I bought of Thomas Gray and lying on the third and fourth lines of the patent to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
• Item. I give and bequeath to my son William Sheffield 80 acres of land joining the piece I give Ephriam including part of the North Carolina Pecoson and lying on the fourth and fifth lines of the patent both pieces, that is to say Ephriams and Williams to be laid out with the advice and assistance of my Executors to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
• Item. The residue and remainder of my lands together with the plantation I live on I leave to my beloved wife ELIZABETH SHUFFIELD during her natural life or widowhood and after her decease or future marriage my will is that the same that is the whole remainder of my lands to be sold and the money arrising from such sale to be equally divided between my sons WRIGHT SHEFFILED, ISHAM SHEFFILED, BRYAN SHEFFIELD, WEST SHEFFIELD, ARTHUR SHEFFIELD and my wife's son WILLIAM GRADDY, share and share alike.
• tem. My future will and desire is that my young sorrell mare be sold at months credit and the money arrising from such sale to be divided equally between my daughters, NANCY SCREWS, LOUISA, POLLY, CATHERINE SHEFFIELD and TABITHA SHEFFIELD share and share alike, the shares of the younger ones to be kept at interest at the descretion of my Executors until they come of age or marry.

• The residue and remainder of my personal estate consisting of stock of every kind, household kitchen and plantation tools of every kind I leave to my said beloved wife ELIZABETH during her natural life or widowhood and she raising and schooling my younger children on the same and after her decease the same to be sold and the money divided between my sons WRIGHT, ISHAM, BRYAN, WEST, ARTHUR, my wife's son, WILLIAM GRADDY and my daughters NANCY, LOUISA, POLLY, CATHERINE and TABITHA, but in case of my wife's marriage, my will is that the sale and division immediately commence she having a child part and in that case my executors to take care of the younger children part in this minority.

• Lastly, I hereby constitute and appoint my trusty friend FRANCIS OLIVER and LEVIN WILKINS to execute this last Will and Testament hereby revoking and disannulling all former wills declaring this to be my last Will and Testament. In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

• John Shuffield
• Signed, sealed and witnessed, published and declared by the said JOHN SHUFFIELD as his last Will and Testament this 22nd day of November 1790 in presence of FRANCIS OLIVER, LEVIN WATKINS and WILLIAM HARRIS.

Research Notes

MARRIAGE RECORD SOURCE: Preface of the book where marriage record is found, says that the originals are in the possession of the NC Historical Commission in Raleigh

• Reserach needed in "Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia" by Folks Huxford

• John was a Revolutionary Soldier - Private in N.C. Militia

• John came to Virginia from England then moved to Duplin County, North Carolina.

• He received bounty grant land in Georgia for his service but apparently never moved there. Deed to William Grady from Wright, Bryant, West, and Arthur (all of Laurens County, Georgia) dated March 30, 1813 conveys for $400.00, 2/3 of 293 acres in Duplin County, North Carolina left to them in their father's will.

• His widow, Elizabeth, moved to Montgomery County, Georgia in 1805 after his death. She participated in the land lottery yet drew no land.

• Notice in the will "William Grady my wife's son"! This is an important factor in separating the two Ishams.

• Isham Sheffield 1760 son of John was living in Laurens Co. GA., in 1815 as was William Grady. Isham made a deed dated 9 June, 1815 to William Grady conveying 48 3/4 acres of land in Duplin Co. and being a part of a 293 acre tract devised him by his father, John Sheffield. Deed Book D page 120 Laurens Co. GA.

• There is a conflict as to where he was born. At Find-A-Grave, it's noted that he was born in Potecasi, North Hampton County, North Carolina. Also, the birth date is different there.

• The Find-A-Grave Memorial is not a true source as there is no grave marker. Place of burial is unknown.

• 'John Sheffield is the son of William, according to Findagrave.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Memorial: "Find a Grave," database with images
   Find A Grave: Memorial #73539481 (accessed 8 November 2023)
   Memorial page for John Sheffield (1730-18 Dec 1790); Maintained by Katherine Torkelson (contributor 47550872).
2. ↑ 1767 Census: "North Carolina, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890," database
   Original data: Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. North Carolina Census, 1790-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes
   Ancestry Record 3566 #16545398 ($, accessed 8 November 2023)
   Name: John Sheffield; State: North Carolina; County: Cumberland; Year: 1767.
3. ↑ Marriage: "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979," database with images
   citing Digital film/folder number: 102179979; Image number: 96
   FamilySearch Record: QP9V-RJYV (accessed 8 November 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS42-VTWT
   Elisabeth Graddy marriage to John X Shuffield on 29 Sep 1779 in Duplin, North Carolina, United States.
4. ↑ 1786 Census: "North Carolina, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890," database
   Original data: Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. North Carolina Census, 1790-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes
   Ancestry Record 3566 #16610653 ($, accessed 8 November 2023)
   Name: John Shuffield [John Sheffield]; State: North Carolina; County: Duplin; Township: Bowdens District; Year: 1786.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Probate: "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images
   citing Duplin, North Carolina, United States, State Archives, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,928,079
   FamilySearch Record: V121-BJC (accessed 8 November 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-91KV-95MM Image number 00007
   John Shuffield probate in 1791 in Duplin, North Carolina, United States.
6. ↑ Ancestry.com, Book, Roster of Revolutinay Soliders in Georgia, Vol 1, page 152, screen 154, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/49320/images/FLHG_RosterRevSoldiersinGA1-0152?ssrc=pt&treeid=77140794&personid=402079869631&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=91565&ranMID=50138&ranEAID=4026539&ranSiteID=Xib7NfnK11s-71.Y6sY_nCA6zVhjUWtNEw&o_xid=4026539&o_lid=4026539&o_sch=Affiliate+External :Accessed 8 Nov 2023
7. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV2K-VSX8 : 13 December 2015), John Sheffield, 1790; Burial, , , ,, ; citing record ID 73539481, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
8. ↑ "Duplin, North Carolina, United States records, Sep 6, 2022," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-JZ9V-H2?view=explore : Oct 17, 2023), image 262-263 of 333; North Carolina. Division of Archives and History.
9. ↑ FHL, Will Index, 1806-1900 Vol 1, screen 227, Typed version of Will, Accessed 4 March 2024
10. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/73539481