William Shook Sr. (abt. 1745 - aft. 1811)

Born about 1745 in Augusta County, Colony of Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Catherine (Sears) Shook — married about 1765 in Hampshire County, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died after 1811 after about age 66 in Flat Creek, Bedford County, Tennessee

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Biography

Birth

William Shook was born in about 1745, possibly in Augusta County, Colony of Virginia. He was the "eldest son" of Hermanus Shook.^[1] As described in more detail in his father's profile, his father first appears in Augusta County in 1750, when William was probably about five years old. Many researchers identify his mother as Anna Schaub, but the identity of his mother is uncertain for the reasons described in her profile.

In 1750, Augusta County was a sprawling area which marked the western frontier of the Virginia colony. In 1753, Hampshire County was created from Fredericks and Augusta County.

Marriage

William probably married Catherine Sears in Hampshire County, Colony of Virginia, in about 1765. Their first child, Margaret, was born on 29 May 1766.^[2]

Hampshire County

William raised a large family in Hampshire County. By 1782, the Virginia state enumeration indicates that there 12 people in his household.^[3] In 1784, there were 13.^[4]

Migration to Tennessee

In 1786, Hardy County was carved from Hampshire County, Virginia. William's father Harmon and several of his brothers appear on the first tithables lists for Hardy County in 1786, but William does not appear on those lists.^[5] It appears that in about 1785, William took his large family west into what was then Indian territory and settled in the area that would eventually become Knox County, Tennessee.^[6]

In about 1811, William migrated for the last time from Knox County to Bedford County, Tennessee, along with some of his sons.^[6]

Death

The circumstances of his death are unknown, but William Shook died after 1811 likely in Bedford County, Tennessee.

Children

Children of William Shook and Catherine Sears include:^[7]

1. Margaret, b. 29 May 1766, m[1] (___) Brock, m[2]. Anthony Reagor
2. William, b. 11 Dec 1767
3. Abraham, b. abt 1770
4. Isaac, b. abt 1772
5. Sarah, b. 1774, m. Isaac Willson
6. Jacob, b. 17 Dec 1777
7. Magdelena, b. abt 1779, m. Samuel Montgomery
8. Mary Ann (Milly), b. 21 Dec 1782, m. Thomas Carpenter
9. Harmon, b. abt 1784
10. Jemima, b. abt 1786, m. Rowley McMillan
11. John, b. abt 1790

Research Notes

Birth Date

The birth year estimate of "about 1745" is based on the date of birth of his first known child, Margaret, on 29 May 1766.

Sources

1. ↑ Hardy County, W. Va., Will Book 1, 1786-1811, p. 35, Will of Hermon Shook, dated 30 Sept 1780, proved 8 June 1789; image, FamilySearch, "West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-HGSN-3Y : accessed 21 Feb 2022); FHL microfilm 816,672, DGS 4,715,556.
2. ↑ Wright W. Frost, The Frosts and Related Families of Bedford County, Tennessee, (Kingsport, Tenn: Kingsport Press, 1962), 152 & 156-157; images, Internet Archive, (https://archive.org/details/frostsrelatedfam00fros : accessed 24 Aug 2022); citing Will of James Sears, Hampshire County Will Book 2, p. 61 (identifying his daughter as Catherine Shook) & Shook family bible records.
3. ↑ S.N.D. North, Dir., U.S. Bureau of the Census, Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Records of the State Enumerations: 1782 to 1785 Virginia, (Washington: GPO, 1908), 25; images, Internet Archive, (https://archive.org/details/headsoffamiliesa00nort : accessed 24 Aug 2022) (William Shook on list of Michl. Stump, Gent., William).
4. ↑ Heads of Families, at 72 (William Shook on list of of Michl. Stump, Gent.).
5. ↑ Hardy County Personal Property Tax Lists 1786-1806; images, FamilySearch, FHL 2,024,575, DGS 8,151,960; 1786: image 16 (Harmon Shook Senr, Harmon Shook Junr, John Shook, David Shook, Peter Shook).
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Frost, Frosts and Related Families, at 153-155.
7. ↑ Frost, Frosts and Related Families, at 155-156.

See also:

• Find A Grave: Memorial #23453645, William Shook (1745-1811), Shook Cemetery, Flat Creek, Bedford County, Tennessee; no gravestone image, no sources cited.