Did He or Didn't He? Isaac Z Shelton's Civil War Service, Part 1

Sometimes a good research topic comes about through close reading of the records. While examining the 1910 census, I found a clue that indicated Isaac Z Shelton may have served in the Confederate army during the Civil War. Determining whether or not my Isaac Z Shelton had served in the Civil War surely would be simple, right? Perhaps not.

The Seed

The 1910 census included a question on the population schedule which asked if the recorded person was "a survivor of the Union or Conference Army or Navy." The instructions to the enumerators stated

192. Column 30. Whether a survivor of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy. -- This question should be asked as to all males over 50 years of age who were born in the United States and all foreign born males who immigrated to this country before 1865. Write "UA" if a survivor of the Union Army; "UN" if a survivor of the Union Navy; "CA" if a survivor of the Confederate Army; and "CN" if a survivor of the Confederate Navy." For all other persons leave the column blank.

[U.S. Census Office, Thirteenth Census of the United States, April 15, 1910, Instructions to Enumerators (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1910), 40; PDF, United States Census Bureau, (https://www.census.gov/ history/www/through_the_decades/census_instructions : accessed 11 August 2016).]

For this question, one of my favorite ancestors to research, Isaac Z Shelton, was recorded with a "CA" to indicate he was a survivor of the Confederate Army. To this point in my research, I had found no information that would indicate Isaac was a Civil War veteran.

A Research Plan

The Civil War is fairly well documented. Both sides kept detailed records on who enlisted, how long they served, where they served, and when and why they were discharged. I suspect that the purpose behind these records really boil down to the simple matter of payroll and having enough soldiers.

Isaac Z Shelton's Timeline

Before diving into the research, I decided to double-check what I know about Isaac to see if it is even plausible for him to have served in the Confederate army.

Event	Sources
April 1844-1852    Birth in Tennessee	GA Death Certificate 1880 Census 1900 Census 1910 Census 1920 Census
31 May 1871    Marriage to Amanda Pruett in Overton, Tennessee	Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950, FamilySearch.org
About 1875    Birth of daughter Alice	1880 Census
About 1879    Birth of daughter Lillie	1880 Census
1880    Lived in Overton Co., Tennessee	1880 Census
About 1883    Birth of daughter Jennie O	1900 Census
About 1888    Birth of daughter Lula B	1900 Census
13 March 1891/92    Birth of son Isaac Denton	1900 Census, WWI draft card
28 December 1896    Birth of son Hubbard Beecher	1900 Census, WWI draft card, Headstone application
About 1899    Birth of daughter Idumea A	1900 Census
1900    Lived in White Co., Tennessee	1900 Census
1910    Lived in Sparta, White Co., Tennessee	1910 Census
1920    Lived in Atlanta, Fulton Co., Georgia	1920 Census
25 Nov 1929    Death in Atlanta, Georgia	GA Death Certificate

Isaac's birth date has been difficult to pinpoint. I have yet to find agreement in any sources, though I suspect it is in the later half of the 1840s.

The Confederate states enacted conscription laws in 1862 to make "all white males between the ages of 18 and 35 who were citizens of a state in the Confederacy subject to national military service for a term of three years." ["Civil War Conscription Laws", November 12, 2012, Margaret Wood] Given that the Civil War was fought between 1860 and 1865, it is plausible that Isaac was old enough to enlist or be conscripted as he would have been between 8 and 16 years old at the onset of the war.

Possible Sources

To get started, I listed record collections and resources to consult related to the Civil War and Tennessee, Isaac's state of residence, to consult in locating Isaac, starting with online resources:

• Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System - http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/
• Report of the Adjutant General of the state of Tennessee - http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=29992
• Tennessee, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 - https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1932422
• U.S. Southern Claims Commission Master Index, 1871-1880 - http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1216
• Tennessee, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 (FamilySearch Historical Records) - https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Tennessee,_Civil_War_Service_Records_of_Confederate_Soldiers_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records)
• Tennessee, Civil War Confederate Pension Applications Index - http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7875
• Tennessee, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers (FamilySearch Historical Records) - https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Tennessee,_Civil_War_Service_Records_of_Union_Soldiers_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records)
• Tennessee, Confederate Pension Applications, Soldiers and Widows (FamilySearch Historical Records) - https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Tennessee_Confederate_Pension_Applications,_Soldiers_and_Widows_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records)
• Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications: Soldiers and Widows - http://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/tennessee-confederate-pension-applications-soldiers-widows

With a plan of attack in mind, I dived into the online records to see what I could find out about Isaac Z Shelton's apparent service.

It Is Family History Month (2017)!

Welcome to Family History Month 2017! I have not been writing here as much as I would like in the past few months. 

I spent the summer enrolled in Boston University's Online Certificate in Genealogical Research program which was a wonderful challenge. I learned a great deal about all areas of genealogy, improved on what I already know, wrote (a lot), read (a lot), and have a list of areas to improve upon. No spoilers, so I will just say that it is a great course to take. I now have plans on hanging up my shingle as a part time professional genealogist!

For this month, I am committing to at least a post a week in order to get back into the habit of blogging. My research on the Sheltons and related families continues. Stay tuned!

Deed - J. L. Newlin to Isaac Z Shelton, 22 September 1905

Deed, J L Newlin to I Z Shelton

For and in Consideration of the sum of 

three hundred and fifty Dollars Paid + 

to be Paid by I. Z. Shelton as follows, two

hundred and seventeen Dollars Cash the 

Receipt of which is hereby acknowledged. and one hundred 

and thirty three Dollars to be Paid in two annual insta-

llments of $66⁵⁰ each for which he has this day executed  

his two Promissory notes due in 12 and 24 months 

Respectively, and Bearing interest from date. We J. L. 

Newlin have Bargained and sold and by there presents 

do transfer and Convey unto the said I. Z Shelton heirs 

and assigns a Certain tract or parcel of land in the 

1^st Dist of White County State of Tennessee as follows.

Beginning on a Rock in the Center of the Smithville 

Nashville Road a Corner of the Abby Gamble tract 
Nashville Road Susan Paul Corner. Thence on her line 
in the Center of Said Road west + passing her Corner 
at 5 1/2 poles and with a line of A. J. Cesly in all 20 1/2

Running thence north 15^o East on a line of the Same

44 poles to a post oak the S. W. Corner of Chas Bandens 

trast of land. Thence on a line of the same N 85^o East

104 poles + 7 links to a Rock Bandens Corner. Thence S.

two^o west on Said Bandens line + passing his Corner 

and with a line of the Susan Paul tract in all 42

poles + 15 links to a Rock in the Center of the Smithville 

poles. Thence North 86^o west on a line of the Same 8

poles. Thence north 88^o west in Said Road 28 Poles.

Thence north 85^o west with Said Road 12 poles. Then

South 77^o west with Said Road 26 poles. Thence South

84^o west with Said Road 6 poles. then north 78^o 

west with Said Road 18 3/4 Poles to the Beginning Contain

ing 31 acres more or less. Being the same land Conveyed 

by Ed Peffer + wife to J. L. Newlin.

To have and to hold the said tract or parcel of 

land with the appurtenances estate title and interest thereto 

Belonging to the Said I Z Shelton heirs and assigns 

forever, and I J. L. Newlin do Covenant with the said 

I Z Shelton that I am lawfully seized and possessed of

said land in fee simple have a good Right to Convey 

it and the Same is unencumbered. and I J. L. Newlin

do further Covenant and Bind myself + my heirs and 

Representatives to warrant and forever defend the title to 

Said land to the Said I.Z. Shelton his heirs and assigns 

against the lawful Claims of all Persons whomsoever.

a lien is expressly Retained upon the Property herein

Conveyed to Same all the deferred Payments of Purchase 

money. Witness my hand this 22 day of September, 1905.

J. L. Newlin

Amanda Newlin

Source: White County (Tennessee) Register of Deeds, Deeds v. 56, 58-59 Oct 1912-Mar 1917 (FHL film #507921), Shelton Ike from J. L. Newlin, p. 307-308

Transcribed: 20 November 2016 by Phillip Ciske

Indirect Evidence for Vesta's Parents

As genealogists, we collect sources. They are the cornerstone of documenting and analyzing our ancestors' lives. How many times, however, do we find a source, extract its information and evidence related to our current problem, and then file it away to be forgotten?

My current primary research quest is identifying the parents of Vesta Hudson. Born in 1912 in Georgia, she married George Alvin Shelton in 1929 in White County, Tennessee. According to family sources, Vesta's mother's maiden name was Norred.

I found plenty of sources with information about the Hudsons and Norreds, but could not manage to link them to a daughter named Vesta. My number one suspects for Vesta's parents are George Henry Hudson and Emma Lou Norred. The names match, the locations match, but no Vesta. It wasn't until I looked at George and Emma Hudson's children, along with occupations, did I begin to find indirect evidence linking them to my Vesta Hudson.

George and Vesta Shelton lived in the area of East Point, Georgia, during much of the 1920s through at least the early 1940s. Today, East Point is a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, but in that time it was a separate town.  George worked in the wool mills around Atlanta.

In the 1930 census, George and Vesta lived at 109 Davis Street, East Point. Next door, in 109A Davis Street, resided Melvin and Nina Hudson. Melvin is recorded as 4 years older than Vesta in 1930. He is employed as a textile worker. Who is this Melvin Hudson? Could he be related? I believe he is.

Melvin's parents are the George and Emma Hudson I believe are Vesta's parents. He appears with them in the 1910 census. I have yet to find any of the Hudsons or Norreds in the 1920 census, though the search continues. In 1930, George and Emma Hudson are found in Sargent, Georgia, where George is employed in the wool mills.

In 1940, everyone is living in East Point, Georgia. George and Vesta Shelton reside just a couple houses from Melvin and Nina Hudson on Fairfax Avenue. George and Emma Hudson live nearby on Center Avenue.

At this point in my research, there are too many similarities to chalk up to coincidence. I believe Melvin is the older brother of Vesta, and both are the children of George Henry Hudson and Emma Lou Norred. Like always, more research and analysis are needed to make for a sound case.

Deed - Isaac Z and Amanda Shelton to James A Roberts, 11 December 1901

I Z Shelton + wife
  to deed
James A Roberts

For and in Consideration
of one hundred and
seventy five Dollars $175.00[,]
seventy five paid in hand the receipt of which
is hereby acknowledged[,] the remainder $100[,] one
hundred Dollars due in twelve months for
which a note is executed and lien retained
until paid[.] [W]e I Z Shelton and wife Amanda
Shelton have this day bargained and sold and
do hereby transfer and Convey unto James A
Roberts the following described tract or parcel
Lying in the 6th District of White County
Tennessee and bounded as follows: Beginning on
a post oak and two post oak [???] the South
west Corner of a tract of land Conveyed to us
by W S Paine and wife Martha Paine
running thence North with the line of said tract
thence South 56 poles to a stake and black [???]
painters thence west 144 poles to the beginning
containing 50 acres to [???] and to [???]
said tract of land to the said James A
Roberts and his heirs and assigns forever[.]
[W}e covenant with the said James A
Roberts that we are lawfully seized
and possessed of said tract and have
a good right to Convey the same
and that the same is unencumbered. [A]nd we
further covenant with the said James A Roberts
that we will forever warrant and defend the
title to said land against all lawful claims of
all persons whomsoever[.]
Witness our hands and seals this December 11th
1901[.]

I. Z. Shelton
Amanda Shelton

White County, Tennessee, Register of Deeds Volume 49-51 Jun 1907-Jul 1910: 134-135, Shelton I Z to James A Roberts, 11 December 1901: FHL 507919.

Transcribed: 19 November 2016 by Phillip Ciske

Finding the Parents of Elodia Varin

Background

Elodia “Lydia” Varin is the wife of Eugene Alphonse Desjarlais and mother of Gilbert Leo Desjarlais, born 27 September 1928 in Burrilleville, Rhode Island.

Objective

Who are the parents of Elodia Varin, wife of Eugene Alphonse Desjarlais and mother of Gilbert Leo Desjarlais of Rhode Island?

Summary

Elodia Varin was married to Eugene Alphonse Desjarlais in Providence, Rhode Island, on 16 February 1915. By locating and examining sources related to her marriage and birth, Elodia’s parents are identified as Joseph Varin, born about 1862 in Canada, and Georgiana Gagnon, born about 1867 in Canada.

Marriage record for Elodia Varin and Eugene Alphonse Desjarlais (16 February 1915):

• Father: Joseph Varin
• Mother: Georgianna Gagnon

Birth registry entry for Elodia Varin (21 July 1898):

• Father: Joseph Varin
• Mother: Georgina Gagnon 

Research Notes

Elodia Varin married Eugene Alphonse Desjarlais on 16 February 1915 in Providence, Rhode Island. Elodia is recorded as sixteen years old, giving an approximate birth year of 1898-1899, while Eugene is seventeen years old, giving an approximate birth year of 1897-1898. The record names Elodia’s parents as Joseph and Georgianna Varin [1].

Elodia’s birth was registered in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Recorded in February 1899, the registry lists her birth date as 21 July 1898. Her parents are listed as Joseph Varin and Georgina Gagnon, who resided in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Joseph and Georgina are also noted as being born in Canada. Joseph’s occupation is listed as a mill operator [2].

Joseph Varin married Georgina Gagnon on 20 April 1885 in Southbridge, Massachusetts [3]. The marriage register for Southbridge, Massachusetts, records Joseph’s age as twenty-three, giving an approximate birth year of 1862, and Georgina’s age as eighteen giving an approximate birth year of 1867. Both Joseph and Georgina are recorded as born in Canada. Both are also recorded as employed as weavers residing in Southbridge. They were married in Notre Dame church in Southbridge.

Joseph’s parents are identified on the registry entry as Louis Varin and Joset Surprenent. Georgina’s parents are identified on the registry as Peter Gagnon and Rachelle Marcereaux.
Georgina died on 8 March 1900 in Southbridge, Massachusetts, of heart failure. Recorded in June 1900, the registry lists her maiden name, Gagnon, and also her spouse, Joseph Varin. Her parents are identified as Pierre Gagnon and Rochel Marsereau [4].

This death registry entry lists Georgina’s age at death as forty years old in 1900, which gives her an approximate birth year of 1860. This conflicts with her recorded age of eighteen in the marriage registry entry from fifteen years earlier in 1885. Additional research is needed to resolve this conflict.

Sources

1. “Rhode Island Town Marriages Index, 1639-1916,” database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 February 2017), entry for Eugene Alphonse Desjarlais and Elodia Varin, 16 February 1915; citing Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence; Family History Library (FHL) microfilm 411.
2. “Massachusetts, Births, 1841-1915,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 February 2017), entry for Elodia Varin, 21 July 1898; citing Secretary of the Commonwealth, Massachusetts Archives, Boston, Births: v. 477 (1898). Suffolk - Worcester; FHL microfilm 1,843,706. 
3. “Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 23 February 2017), entry for Joseph Varin and Georgina Gagnon, 20 April 1885; citing Southbridge, Massachusetts, United States, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 1,415,221.
4. “Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 25 February 2017), entry for Georgina Gagnon, 8 March 1900; citing Southbridge, Massachusetts, 455-65, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 1,843,728.

Change is Big and Small

Change is a constant in life, from the small, like growing from a child to an adult, to the big, like moving to an new home or starting a family. Our ancestors experienced many of the same changes we do today, only the small details are different. Society changes, technology changes, family changes, they all continue to happen. Placing our ancestors into the larger context of life around them is, I believe, an important step in gaining insights into who they were and why they may have made the decisions they did as revealed by the documentation they left behind.

One of my favorite current ancestors of study is Isaac Z Shelton. Isaac was born between 1844 and 1852 in Tennessee. I'm still working to determine a more accurate birth date, as his Georgia death certificate states April 1844, the 1900 US census states April 1847, while the 1880 US census claims 1852. Isaac died on 25 November 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia.

During Isaac's at around eighty years of life, he lived in, at least, Overton County and White County in Tennessee, as well as Atlanta, Georgia. Eighty years is enough time for a great deal of change. Plotting Isaac's life on a timeline of historical events gives a great picture of the kinds of changes that occurred. For example:

• The transcontinental railroad in the US was built
• The Civil War and Reconstruction
• Increased industrialization
• Economic depression (1873-1896)
• The first flight (1903)
• Automobiles were built and then became common place (Model T in 1908)
• World War I
• Women's suffrage in the US