William Shields Jr. (1728 - 1797)

Born 14 Jul 1728 in Armagh, Armagh, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Jane Bentley (Williams) Shields — married 25 Apr 1754 in Frederick, Frederick, Maryland

Descendants

Died 12 Sep 1797 at age 69 in Emmitsburg, Frederick, Maryland, United States

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Biography

William Shields Jr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A103714.

Major William Shields Jr. served with 3rd Battalion, Frederick County Militia, Maryland Militia during the American Revolution.

William was born in 1728. He passed away about 1797. ^[1]

"The emigration to America of William Shields...is recorded in a family Bible originally presented to William Shields' fourth son, also named William, and presently in the possession of a third great-granddaughter of the original William Shields..."

"William Shields was born in the County of Armagh in the Kingdom of Ireland on Sunday the fourteenth day of July in the Year of our Lord 1728--Embarked Aboard A sloop Commanded by Capt. Alexander Smith for America on the twenty sixth day of July 1737 Being the Ninth Year of his Age Arrived at Newcastle State of Delaware on the first day of August Next Ensuing on the voyage lost his father and Brother Robert, who was taken away by the unrelenting hand of death. Dwelt in Newcastle County six years--then Removed unto Cessil County State of Maryland. Remained there four years Next Ensuing--then removed to Frederick County, State of Maryland aforesaid in the year 1748--and was married on the twenty fifth day of April 1754 to Jane (Bentley) Williams Daughter of John Williams--who was then late from Chester County, Pennsylvania. Sade Jane was born in Lancaster County State of Pennsylvania --in North America--on the sixteenth day of August 1736..."

"It appears likely there was error in recording either the date of William's departure from Ireland or that of his arrival in America by sloop in approximately six days. One later account states simply that he arrived 'the following year.' This and other minor discrepancies are possibly accounted for by the fact that the first several pages of entries in the Bible were recorded at the time of its purchase in the late 1790s, shortly before the death of William Shields, and some fifty years after his arrival in Frederick County." ^[2]

Grave Marker Reads: In Memory of /William Shields /Born in County Armagh /Ireland, July 14, 1728 /Arrived Newcastle, Del. /August 1, 1757 /Settled in Frederick Co. /Md. Emmitsburg District/ 1748/ Surveyor; Patriot; /Officer in Revolutionary /War

In 1775 two militia companies were raised in Tom's Creek Hundred, Frederick County. One of these was the Game Cock Company under the command of Captain William Blair. The second was under the command of Captain William Shields. Both of these companies took part in the battle of White Plains, NY, during Washington's retreat. ^[3]

The will of William Shields names "all my children to wit John, James Henry William Samuel Agnes David Banner Ebenezer and Margaret" (no Mary) and yet it goes on to say that "each of my three daughters" shall have one third in proportion to what my sons part shall be. So although he names only two daughters, he refers to having three daughters.

Will of William Shields

In the name of God Amen I WIlliam Shields of Frederick County and State of Maryland farmer being in perfect health of Body of a Sound mind and disposing memory thanks be given unto God calling to mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men ones to Die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament that is to say Principally and first of all I recommend my soul into the hands of God who gave it and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be Buryed in Decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Executors Nothing Doubting but at the General resurrection I shall receive the Same again by the Almighty Power of God and as Touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to Bless me with here in this life I give Demise and dispose of in manner and form following. First it is my will and desire that as much of my Personal Estate (Slaves included) as shall be Judged necessary to pay off all my legal debts and funeral expenses and also to make out good rights for that Part of my Land that is not yet Patented or Conveyed to me be sold and Turned into Cash and the money arising from such sale be applyed by my Exectr. to the above Purpose twelve Months after my Decease or as Soon as it may be in their Power to Collect the Money  :: Imprimis I give and bequeath unto Jane my Dearly beloved Wife one third part of my Personal Estate to be her own Property and also one third part of my real Estate or landed property for and During her natural life the Mansion house where I now live to be included in her third part and it is further my will and Desire that the profits and advantages arising from my real Estate or landed property be applyed by my Exectrs. to the Support of my family and for the Education of my five youngest children untill my youngest daughter Margaret arrive at the Age of Sixteen Years and at that Period it is my WIll and desire that then all my Real and Personal Estate be sold and turned into Cash and the Money arising from such Sale to be Distributed and Divided by my Executors whom I do hereby Impower and authorize to Convey and make Good rights to the Purchasers of all my real and Personal Estate amongst all my children to wit John, James Henry William Samuel Agnes David Banner Ebenezer and Margaret in manner and form following to wit when the whole Amt. is known each of my Eight sons is to have an Equal Share part and each of my three [sic] daughters shall have one third in proportion to what my sons part shall be when the Sum is properly known which now is uncertain My true Intent and meaning is that if in case the Amount of the money of the Sale should rise so high that each of my Sons should have two hundred Pounds and so in proportion let it be any greater or lesser Sum and lastly I do make constitute and ordain my two Beloved Sons John Shields and James Shields whole and Sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament and do hereby utterly disallow revoke and Disannul all and every other former Testaments Wills Bequests and Executors by me in any ways before named willed and Bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last will and Testament in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Thirtieth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty Nine 1789 Witnessed by James Hughes, John Goff, Joseph Hughes. ^[4]

A negro woman named Sarah was sold by executor John Shields to William Shields [Jr.] according to the will of William Shields, deceased. Sarah was to receive her freedom April 8, 1802. ^[5]

Slaves

• Charles Shields

Birth

Birth:

Date: 14 JUL 1728

Place: Armagh, Armagh, Ireland^[6]

Birth:

Date: 1728

Found multiple copies of BIRT DATE. Using 14 JUL 1728

Death

Death:

Date: 12 SEP 1797

Place: Emmitsburg, Frederick, Maryland, United States^[7]

Death:

Date: 1797

Found multiple copies of DEAT DATE. Using 12 SEP 1797Array

Residence

Residence:

Place: United States^[8]

Residence:

Place: United States^[9]

Residence:

Place: United States^[10]

Residence:

Place: United States^[11]

Marriage

Husband: William Shields

Wife: Jane Bentley Williams

Child: William Shields

Relationship to Father: Natural

Relationship to Mother: Natural

Marriage:

Date: 25 APR 1754

Place: Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United States^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ Entered by Catherine Evans, Friday, August 2, 2013.
2. ↑ History of the Shields Family by John Edgar Shields, 1968, pp. 21-22
3. ↑ http://www.emmitsburg.net/archive_list/articles/history/rev_war/forgotten_patriots_of_tom_creek.htm
4. ↑ Maryland Register of Wills Records 1629-1999 Frederick Wills 1794-1803 vol 3 page 180-181 "Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999." Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 14 June 2016. Citing Prerogative Court. Hall of Records, Annapolis.
5. ↑ Bill of sale, autograph document signed, Frederick County, October 13, 1797, John Shields: Sale of Negro slave to William Shields for $100 [Frederick County], 10/30/1797-10/30/1797 https://digital.lib.umd.edu/image?pid=umd:92765
6. ↑ Source: #S20 Page: Database online. Data: Text: Record for William Shields
7. ↑ Source: #S20 Page: Database online. Data: Text: Record for William Shields
8. ↑ Source: #S20 Page: Database online. Data: Text: Record for William Shields
9. ↑ Source: #S20 Page: Database online. Data: Text: Record for William Shields
10. ↑ Source: #S20 Page: Database online. Data: Text: Record for William Shields
11. ↑ Source: #S20 Page: Database online. Data: Text: Record for William Shields
12. ↑ Source: #S20 Page: Database online. Data: Text: Record for William Shields

• Source: S20 Author: Ancestry.com Title: Public Member Trees Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006; Repository: #R5
• History of Frederick Co., MD Pg #254

Footnotes

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Catherine Evans for creating Shields-1176 on 2 Aug 13.

• WikiTree profile Shields-896 created through the import of LaurieSherrod8Generations_102712.ged on Oct 27, 2012 by Laurie Holleman.
• Clements, S. Eugene and Wright, F. Edward. The Maryland Militia in the Revolutionary War; 2006, Heritage Books, Inc., Westminster, Maryland 21157. p. 120.