William Park Shipley was born about 1812 in Tennessee the third identified son of Richard Shipley, Sr. and Hannah Retta Hughes.(1) He married Martha Patsy Roller about 1835 in Sullivan County, Tennessee, USA.(2) She was born about 1811 in Sullivan County, Tennessee, USA to George Roller and Elizabeth Shipley.(3) They began their family in Sullivan County and then moved on down to Hamilton County, Tennessee, USA. William was heavily in debt(4) when he was murdered or committed suicide the 25th of March 1843 in Hamilton County, Tennessee, USA. Martha’s brother, George Roller, came to Hamiliton County, and brought her and the children back to Sullivan County, to live with him and his family. She died after 1870 in Sullivan County, Tennessee, USA. They had four children.
Footnotes:
(1) R. Cecil Shipley’s sources on the descendants of William Park Shipley are: 1) C.M. Crawley, Sr., 2)Bess H. Howard, 3)Elisabeth Shipley Collins, and 4) Holston Territory Genealogical Society, Families and History of Sullivan County, Tennessee, USA, Vol. 1, 1779-1992.
(2) Bess Howard <Besshhoward at aol dot com> Feb. 12, 2002.
(3) Lynne Chandler’s Shipley Descendancy Chart sent Jan.25, 2000 "LynneC8296 at aol dot com"
(4) Bess Howard <Besshhoward at aol dot com> Feb. 12, 2002.
Compiled and written by Susan Kimes Burgess
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R. Cecil Shipley research and thoughts:
"Richard Sr. paid taxes and died in Rhea County in 1819 when William was age 7.
So how was William in Sullivan County in 1835 to marry Martha Roller and then be in Hamilton County when he died in 1843? We know the Roller family were in Sullivan and the census supports Martha being in Sullivan County after the death of William.
William would have been too young while in Sullivan County to have returned alone to Sullivan County to marry his childhood sweetheart.
Maybe Hannah returned to Sullivan County with the children after the death of Richard Sr. and then the adult sons returned to Hamilton County to marry women from Hamilton County.
What am I overlooking here.
1807 Rhea County created
1805 to 1814 the sons are born
1819 Richard Sr. paid taxes in Rhea County
February 1820 Rhea County Quarterly Court deals with the death of Richard Sr.
1820 Hamilton County created
1826 Ben marries Sarah Burkett in Hamilton County
1828 Nathan married Charlotte Campbell in Hamilton County
1834 Richard Jr. marries Julinda Windom who was born in Hamilton County
1835 William marries Martha Roller who was born in Sullivan County
1840 United States Census: , Hamilton, Tennessee; Roll: 151; Page: 525; Image: 308; Family History Library Film: 0024546.
Name: Park Shipley
[Park Shiply]
County: Hamilton
State: Tennessee
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 2
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
Total - All Persons (Free White, Free Colored, Slaves): 6
Persons Employed in Manufacture and Trade: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 3
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 3
Total Free White Persons: 6
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 6
same page:
Jas Varner
Gideon Lovelady
Lewis Varner married to Mary Ann Hughes, daughter of Hezekiah Hughes, son of John Hughes, son of Francis Hughes (possible father of Hannah Retta Hughes)
1843 William died and Martha returned to Sullivan County"
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This letter was in the possession of Elizabeth Shipley Collins of Kingsport, Sullivan County, Tennesee. After her death it was given to Marie Nelms, Elizabeth's neice, and descendant of Amanda Roller. Transcribed by Susan Kimes Burgess, May 31, 2005.
Clio, Iowa Mar. 12. 1903
Geo. Shipley.
Bluntsville Tenn.
Dear Nephew,
Not having
heard from you or your family
since 1861. and being desirous of
doing so, I concluded to write to
you. - I am your father's (William P's)
youngest brother. and am now
eighty-eight years of age. In good
health and strong for one of my
age. but almost blind.
If you know of any of your
uncles, except me. if living - or their
families if dead. I hope you will
write and let me know.
I have the following children,
now of nearly and some past middle
age, Benjamin R. living near Clio, Iowa
Mrs. Mary Garton, of Clay township
this county, Richard in Nebraska,
Nancy Ann Hunt in Missouri
of first family - -
Mrs. Etta Owen of Clio - or
near there . second family. - are all now living.
and ages in order given. Write soon
Your Uncle,
Richard Shipley
Clio, Wayne Co. Iowa
*****************************************
Addressed thusly:
Richard Shipley if not delivered
Clio Iowa. return to Bluntsville
Indian Springs R.F. D. #3
Mr. George Shipley
(son of William P. Shipley died about 1843)
Bluntsville
Sullivan Co. Tennessee
******************************************
On the envelope this is written:
"Postmaster, If Mr. George Shipley
or some of his family cannot be found, please open and read and answer.
& obliged
Richard Shipley,
Clio Iowa."