Sarah "Sally" BURKETT 
Sarah "Sally" was born in 1811 in During Oats Harvest in Tennessee, USA.1 She died after March 19th, 1890 in , , Arkansas, USA.1 General Notes
It has not been proved that Mathias Burket/Burkett and Susanna McNeese are the parents of William Burkett. Other children may be Louisa b 1807 and m John Turnbow, 1827, Perry County, Tennessee, USA; and Peggy b ?, married Charles Walker, 18 Nov 1824, Greene County, Tennessee, USA. Source: Lucy Haney at madewell32@@hotmail.com
George Washington Burkett b Jul 15, 1814, Sarah Burkett b abt 1809 and Jackson Burkett b abt 1807 were siblings born in Tennessee. (I have not seen proof of this statement but George and Jackson were living beside each other in 1850 and a daughter of Sarah was living in George's household in 1850.) They may have been siblings of William Burkett b abt 1806 in Greene or Maury County, Tennessee. All four of them may have been the children of Mathias Burkett and Susanna McNeese who married in Maury County, TN on Jan 16, 1805. George, Sarah and Jackson moved to Madison County, Arkansas. William moved to White County, Arkansas.
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Sarah tells about their relationship in her Civil War pension deposition No. 379798 the 19th of March, 1890.
"My husband was Benjamin Shipley. I don’t know whether or not I know when I was married to Ben Shipley. The Lord knows how long I lived with him, I don’t. My maiden name was Burkett and we was married at Dallas, Hamilton Co., Tennessee by Squire Jones. My third child was just three weeks old at the time the stars fell. I had eleven children by Shipley. He was blind and couldn’t content himself and he kept moving about. He and a man quarreled and he shot the man and he then left me in Tennessee and he came to Arkansas. Afterwards I came to Arkansas to join him. He went blind after we came to Arkansas. He died a year or two ago in Mulberry in Franklin County, Arkansas, USA. We were separated several years. I don’t know whether we were separated in the time of the war or not. I believe I was by myself then. My youngest child is named Thomas and he was born after my husband left me. I can’t say how long afterwards. I know I was by myself. It could not have been long. Ben had not left me for good then - he kept coming back and forward before the child was born. It died in two or three weeks after it was born. When my husband left me he link up with another woman, but he was never, married to her. She died and he then wanted to come home but I wouldn’t let him. He was not living with me when James died. James was never married, consequently left no widow, child or children surviving him."
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Elisabeth Minerva Shipley told this story,
"Ben was indifferent to Sarah at best. She said he became desolate and lost hope after he became blind. Soon after becoming blind, Ben deserted Sarah and lived with other women, but did not marry any. Ben also lived some with his daughter, Hannah Retta Shipley Newton. I can not say where Ben lived when he died except that he lived in Franklin County. He would wander back and forth to Sarah. Sarah became pregnant with Thomas who was born in 1854, but he died almost immediately as he and Sarah were malnourished."
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GENERAL AFFIDAVIT.
State of Arkansas County of Crawford SS.,
In the matter of Mothers Claim for Pension of Mrs. Sarah Shipley
Mother of James Shipley Private Co. "H" 1st Ark. Infty
ON THIS 24 day of December A.D.. 1888 personally appeared before me, a
Justice of the Peace in and for the aforesaid County. duly authorized to administer oath.
Mrs Sarah Shipley , age 76 years, whose Post Office address is Mountainburg
Crawford County Ark.
who being duly sworn declared in relation to said case as follows: That she is the claimant;
that she has resided in the immediate neighbor-hood
of her present residence since the death of her son
the soldier in 1869; That she has not changed her res-
idence Since 1869, except a few miles in the immediate
neighbor hood; that her post office addresses have been
Mountainburg and Chester, Crawford County Arkansas.
That the names, ages of all the members of her family
in 1869, Were Elijah aged ?? years, who was improv-
ident and realy an expense upon her hands.
There were also living at that time the following children
Arabella ages 38, Park aged 36, now dead, Ona
aged 34 years, Ben aged 32 and Hannah aged
30 years. None of these children have lived with
me nor contributed to my support since the death of
my son James the soldier.
That my son, James was not attended by any physician
in his last sickness.
That no person has been legally bound to support
her since the death of her son, the said soldier.
J. K. Cook
F. A. Cook her
Sarah X Shipley
mark
2
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(3-446.)
DEPOSITION ________
Case of Sarah Shipley , No. 379,798
On this 19th day of March , 1890, at
7 mi. W. of Chester , County of Crawford ,
State of Arkansas , before me, H.N. Patton , a
Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared Mrs. Sarah
Shipley - Claimant , who, being by me first duly sworn to answer
truly all interrogatories propounded to her during this Special Examination of aforesaid
pension claim, deposes and says: I don't know how old I am. I am
going on 70 odd. I was born in oats harvest in
1811 I think : widow : P.O. address Chester Crawford
Co. Ark.
I claim a pension as a dependent mother of
James Shipley, my son, who died of disease contracted
in the service. He died of smallpox or whatever you
called it. He was broken out all in scabs under his arms,
over his face and about all over him. He got the
disease at Ft. Smith - Ark. He sent for me to come to see him
and I went and staid with him in the tents until he
got able and I then brought him home with me. I expect
there were sores on him when I went to see him. There must
have been. I could not say whether I saw any sores on
him at that time or not. I expect there was though. Poor
fellow he didn't want to go to the hospital and that is the
reason he sent for me. I believe they called the disease
small pox. He was rotten with it I know. I forget the
year that I went too see him. I don't know "pint blank". I brought
him with me, and them places I've been telling you of broke
out again, under his arms and over his face + about
just like blisters, and he got so we couldn't move him
without his "hollerin". Yes Sir, he had been vaccinnated.
There was a heap of the soldiers at Fort Smith got vaccinnated
and I think James did to. "I don't know nothing." I have
been sick and am so old that I don't recollect much.
I don't remember the date - of his death -, but I think it
was in Aug. We were pulling fodder at the time. The cause of death
Page 7 Deposition A
Page 8
was the breaking out and his being in the army. I had four
boys in the army, and they all died after they came out of
the service. We had a doctor over here somewhere but
I don't know his name. to give him some treatment. That
was a night or two, or day or two, or a wk before James died.
He lived out here at Chester. He was never stout after
he came out of the army. "He lived till he died." He was able
to go about like the rest of the soldiers. He had this breaking out
until he died. He was mortified poor fellow. They couldn't
put his shoes on after he died without pulling his feet
off, he was so mortified. He was scabs all over.
Yes, his arm was all raw when I came to see him at Ft. Smith -
and it liked to have come off. I don't remember which
arm it was.
I don't remember "pint blank" when he enlisted. He
was old enough to go into the army, but I can't say how old
he was when he enlisted. He wasn't of age, - was just
a boy. He lived at home with me and he made corn,
or helped, for all of us -- helped to make a living like
a child ought to do. He sent me $2.00 or $3.00 after he went into
the service. I ought to know who he sent it by but I don't. That
is all he ever sent me. It was silver money I believe. I
depended in part on James for my support because he worked
at home to make the living. I don't know the Co or Regt. he belonged to.
I don't know where my girls were when James
enlisted. They were with their Pa where ever he was.
I only had one child at home when James enlisted,
and that was Elijah. He was younger than James. Me
and him, that child, went to Ft. Smith to tend to James.
My husband was Benjamin Shipley. I don't
know whether or not I know when I was married to
her
Signature of witness Sarah X Shipley
Milsey Crabtree mark
H.N. Patton
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 19 day of Mch ,
1890, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
H.N. Patton
Special Examiner.
(3-446.)
DEPOSITION ________
Case of Sarah Shipley , No. 379,798
On this day of , 18 , at
, County of ,
State of , before me, , a
Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared
, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer
truly all interrogatories propounded to her during this Special Examination of aforesaid
pension claim, deposes and says:
Ben Shipley. The Lord knows how long I lived with
him, I don't. My maiden name was Burkett, and we
were married at Dallas, Hamilton Co.,Tenn. by Squire Jones.
My 3rd child was just 3 wks old at the time the
"Stars fell". I had eleven children by Shipley. He
was blind and couldn't content himself and he kept
moving about. He and a man quarreled and he shot
the man and he then left me in Tennessee and
came to Ark. Afterwards I came to Ark. to join him. He
went blind after we came to Ark. He died a year
or two ago in Mulberry in Franklin Co. Ark. We
were separated several years. I don't know whether
we were separated in the time of the war or not. I
believe I was by myself then. My youngest child
is named Thomas and he was born after my
husband left me. I can't say how long afterwards. I
know I was by myself. It could not have been long. Ben
had not left me for good then -- he kept coming back
or forward before the child was born. It died in 2 or 3
wks after it was born. When my husband left me
he link up with another woman but he was never
married to her. She died and he then wanted to come
home but I wouldn't let him. He was not living with
me when my son James died and had not lived
with me for several years before James died.
James was never married, consequently
left no widow, child or children surviving him.
Page 9 Deposition A
Page 11
After he came from the war he settled a place up here
on the mountain and I kept house for him and he
made the living, and that is the way I got along.
Yes, I owned right smart property when James
died I owned no land. We just settled a claim.
I had two horses, one which I would not take
$100.00 for, if I had it here to day. I had one colt; 2 or 3
milch cows; one yoke of steers - medium sized cattle
Oh yes we had hogs, but I don't know how many - Enough
to make my own meat. Had no sheep - didn't want them.
Me + James made our own meat. I can't tell you
how much my property was worth at his death. I
had no money in interest. I have a cow + a calf
now; that is all I need. I don't know what my
income was when James died. We made use
of all we made. When James died I had a
little grand child living with me; that was the
extent of my family.
My neighbors from the time James came out of
the army up to his death were Betsey Shipley, died -
Well I don't know any body else now. Every body that
heard of it came to see him in his last illness
but I can't name them now.
I have never remarried since my husbands
death; neither have I lived with or cohabited with
any man since my husband abandoned me.
I never aided or abetted the rebellion. I was never any rebel.
Q What witnesses do you desire me to see
in support of your claim for pension?
A I don't know
her
Signatures of witness. Sarah X Shipley
Milsey Crabtree mark
H.N. Patton
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 19 day of Mch ,
1890, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
H.N. Patton
Special Examiner.
3 (3-446.)
DEPOSITION ________
Case of Sarah Shipley , No. 379,798
On this day of , 18 , at
, County of ,
State of , before me, , a
Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared
, who, being by me first duly sworn to answer
truly all interrogatories propounded to her during this Special Examination of aforesaid
pension claim, deposes and says:
Q Why did you wait so long before applying
for a pension, on account of your son James Shipley, to
whom you looked in part, for your support?
A Didn't want to I reckon. Never thought anything
about it. First one + then another told me I could
draw.
Q How long have you been so feeble?
A Some 2 or 3 wks. I am able to sit up a part
Of the time. I sat up a little while this morning.
Q Has this affidavit been read over to you
before signing it?
A I don't know. You have read something. What
you have read looks like it was right. I have
no fault to find with it. "I don't find fault
with nothing."
Q Do you think you have understood the questions
I asked you?
A I think so. It looks like I ought. I don't know much.
Q Have I put your answers down correctly?
A Yes, I think I ought to.
her
Sarah X Shipley
Milsey Crabtree mark
H.N. Patton
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 19 day of Mch ,
1890, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
H.N. Patton
Special Examiner.
Page 12 Deposition A
Transcribed by Susan Kimes Burgess
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1840 United States Federal Census
Name: Benjamine Shipley
Township: Vineyard
County: Washington
State: Arkansas
Roll: 20
Page: 268
2101100000000
2210100000000
2 males under age 5, Benjamin Franklin Shipley, Jr. and William Parker
Shipley
1 male age 5-9, Nathan Pascal Shipley age 13
1 male age 15-19, unknown but not a child of this family
1 male age 20-29, Benjamin Franklin Shipley, Sr. age 35
2 females under age 5, Naomi Shipley and unknown but not a child of this family
2 females age 5-9, Ibbey Jane Shipley and Susan Arabella Shipley
1 female age 10-14, unknown but not a child of this family
1 female age 20-29, Sarah Burkett Shipley age 30-31
1850 Census: Jasper, Crawford, Arkansas; Roll: M432_25; Page: 335; Image: 665. Enumerated 27 Dec 1850,
Benjamin Shipley 43 M Grocer Tennessee Blind
Sally Shipley 41 F Tennessee
Susan A. Shipley 17 F Tennessee
Naomi Shipley 15 F Tennessee
William B. Shipley 13 M Tennessee
Benjamin Shipley 11 M Tennessee
Hanreitta Shipley 9 F Arkansas
Richard Shipley 6 M Arkansas
James Shipley 5 M Arkansas
Elijah Shipley 2 M Arkansas
1860 Census: Mulberry, Franklin, Arkansas; Roll: M653_41; Page: 309; Image: 310.
B. Shipley 45 M W Farmer 915 Tennessee Blind
Richard Shipley 18 M W Farmer Arkansas
James Shipley 14 M W Arkansas
Elijah Shipley 10 M W Arkansas
Polly Burket 44 F W Tennessee
1860 Census: Upper Township, Crawford County, Arkansas enumerated Aug 1, 1860 ; Post Office: The Narrows
Series: M653 Roll: 40 Page: 720
LN HN FN NAME AGE SEX Race OCCUP. VAL. BIRTHPLACE MRD. SCH. R/W DDBIPC
14 801 773 Nathan Shipley 28 M Farmer 1000 1611 Tenn
15 Elisabeth Shipley 28 F Arks
16 Elisa J. Shipley 8 F Arks
17 William Shipley 6 M Arks
18 Thomas Shipley 4 M Arks
19 James Shipley 2 M Arks
20 Nathan Shipley 9/12 M Arks
21 Throb Shipley 65 F Unknown Over 20 can't read or write (This is Sarah Burkett Shipley and her two sons, James and Elijah.)
22 James Shipley 12 M Arks
23 Elijah Shipley 10 M Arks
1870 Census:
Details of Sarah "Sally"'s family with Benjamin Franklin SHIPLEY
1 Civil War pension deposition No. 379798
Further source/citation:
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=burgess_kimes&id=I40722
Further source/citation:
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=burgess_kimes&id=I40722
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