Who did Sarah Shelton (b. 1738) really marry - Patrick Henry or Capt. Henry Woodward?

Question

I'm researching my family tree. I've found two references to Sarah Shelton (b. 1738 - d. 1775) saying 1) that she married the "patriot" Patrick Henry in 1754 when she was only 16 (https://www.history.org/almanack/people/bios/biohen.cfm) and 2) that she was married to Capt. Henry Woodward in 1755 and they had 3-4 sons (1761, 1764, and 1768 (http://woodward.scottsworld.info/page7.htm). 

Sarah's father (for both of them, was Capt. John Armistead Shelton of Rural Plains). Has anyone else encountered this confusion? If so, what is the right answer? 

Answer 1

Patrick Henry-30 did marry Sarah Shelton-118 at Rural Plains at Shelton House in Hanover County, Virginia. See their profiles here on WikiTree.

Also see https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Henry for a quick reference.

Do you have any idea where the other ideas about Sarah Shelton came from? Someone may have connected the wrong details to another Sarah Shelton.

Comments

There is quite a bit of research already done regarding Captain Henry Woodward. Part of it refers to Sarah Shelton. Here's an excerpt:  
"At the close of the French and Indian Wars, Captain
Henry Woodward and his wife, the former Sarah
Shelton, who came of the noble family of Sheltons who
trace their ancestry to Charlemagne and the Magna
Charta Barons, settled in Stafford Co., Virginia, a short
distance from Aquia Church, located on Aquia Creek, in
Overwharton Parish, Stafford, Virginia.
Here is where their sons: (1A) James, (1B) Jesse and (1C)
William Presley Woodward, were born.
Supported by records in the Congressional Library, the
original portion of the Capitol building in Washington,
D.C., was built from stone quarried on Captain
Woodward's land. The southeast cornerstone was laid
2/3/2016 Our American Heritage, Capt. Henry Woodward
http://woodward.scottsworld.info/page6.htm 3/3
Woodward's land. The southeast cornerstone was laid
by President Washington with Masonic ceremonies 18
September 1793."

Here are the sites..

http://woodward.scottsworld.info/page7.htm

http://www.lindageiger.com/woodwardswesearch/WWSblog/?cat=18

One of my cousins also did a lot of research years ago.

Question: Was Patrick Henry's Sarah Shelton a descendant of royalty as mentioned above for Capt. Henry Woodward's Sarah Shelton?

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It says former Sarah Shelton, NOT Sarah Henry or the widow of Patrick Henry. The dates don't line up with Patrick Henry and Sarah Shelton's marriage. The "other" Sarah had children with Woodward while the first Sarah was still married to Patrick.

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Seems weird that there were two Sarah Shelton's in the same time and place in that period of time - i.e. the 1750's and 60's. It would be especially weird if they weren't related somehow.

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It's a fairly common English name. Patrick Henry's wife was born circa 1717. The Sarah Shelton that married Captain Henry Woodward was born in 1738. I am not familiar with lines of descent from Charlemagne, but there are active projects on WikiTree that work on that. Why don't you join us?

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You can search for these individuals on WikiTree.

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I read the links you provided too. There is no evidence that they are the same Sarah Shelton. Woodward's wife was born in England; Patrick's wife, America.

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These are not the same Sarahs.

 

I see many trees on Ancestry that have mistakenly intertwined the two.

Also, being a descendant of Capt. Henry Woodward, and having researched our lineage for the last 11 years, I have also read of the claims of Sarah's connection to Charlemagne, but having no information on her parents, I remain skeptical.

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I hope the question writer returns for your input, Jeff!

Answer 2

She married Patrick Henry.

 

http://www.redhill.org/biography.html

http://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2008/11/sarah-shelton-henry.html

http://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/patrick-and-sarah-henry-mental-illness-18th-century-america

Comments

Capt Woodward was my direct grandfather.  My Moms, Dads mom my great grandmother's maiden name was Woodward.  The Sarah he married was born in England..  they met on the boat coming here.  Capt Woodward was in the English army and was done..  left to come to America and was on a ship waiting to leave England when the English army came aboard to conscript soldiers..  being able bodied and ex army, he was sure to be snagged..  he started to flip out and cussed and was heard by a "portly" woman named Sarah...  she saw he was upset and asked why..  he told her how he just left the army and only wanted to get away..  now he was about to be pulled off a ship and reenlisted..  so she hid him under her skirt while the English walked past, not seeing the short Woodward hiding..  the ship set sail, and when they landed in VA, the two, Henry and Sarah got married...  i am their grandson through their son Jesse...  hope this helps!

Answer 3

Sarah shelton who married patrick henry was the daughter of 

John Armistead Shelton 

1713–1777

BIRTH 1713 • Rural Plains, Hanover, Virginia, United States

DEATH 18 NOV 1777 • Brandywine, Chadford, Pennsylvania, United States and

Eleanor Parks

1703–1738

BIRTH 1703 • Williamsburg, James, Virginia, United States

DEATH 1738 • Hanover, Virginia, United States