James Shields first settled in Kent Co., MD, finally moving to Newcastle, and became the progenitor of "The largest of the American Shields families". We do not know the name of his wife. His brother, William, settled in Williamsburg, VA. A great grand daughter of his was the grand mother of John Tyler, our tenth President. William SHIELDS was, a son of James, a son of James, was born in Kent CO., MD, in 1668. He married Jeanetter Parker and lived in Chestere Co., PA. In 1739 he moved his family, of three sons and two daughters, to Augusta Co., VA which at that time was being rapidly settled by emigrants from PA.
The sons were James, Thomas and John. The father, William, was killed by a falling log in 1741, as he was helping one of sons "raise" a house. James, the 'Cordwainer' (shoe maker), bought 209 acres of land on Moffett Creek in 1746. He died in 1750, leaving a widow, Jean Armstrong, and a minor son, John. The following is from the ANNALS of AUGUSTA CO, VA, 1726-1871, by Joseph A. Wadell, p. 80:"James Shields, who died in 1750, had among other properties a knife and fork, valued at 21 cents".
On August 18 1747, Thomas SHIELDS purchased land from Beverleys Manor, (A Crown Grant of 118,191 acres to William Beverley, et al). bought 225 acres from the Beverleys Manor in 1742. He died in 1773, leaving a widow, Margaret PERRY, and sons Robert, John, William and Thomas, and a daughter Mary. Robert, our ancestor, was born in Chester Co., PA. He married, in 1761, Nancy Stocton (1745-1810), a daughter of Richard STOCKTON, of Alberle Co., VA. This family consisted of five sons and eight daughters.
NOTE TAKEN FROM SHIELDS FAMILY book, 1980, pg. 39.
James Shields was born about 1633 in the County of Antrim, Ireland, the son of William SHIELDS. From historical data already researched, we find James SHIELDS and his older brother, William, together with about 100,000 others, were deported during Oliver Cromwells persecution for the "crime of being an Irishman and loyal to the King." One only needs to do a historical study of England and Ireland to comprehend the atrocious acts commited by Cromwell. James and William were shipped on a cattle ship to the Barbados Islands in the West Indies, a time island to the south of Puerto Rico, along with hundreds in 1655. Sometime later, probably aboiut three years,m they made their way to Williamsburg, James City, Virginia, where William remained.
Pg. 40
Prior to 1660, James removed from Williamsburg, VA to Baltimore, Md. He remained there a short while and then moved across the penisnusla to Kent County, MD. He remained there a short while and then moved across the peninsula to Kent County, Md., later records show that he was in New Castle, Del. The name of James wife is unknown.
James had 3 known children. No doubt there were other children.According to Broderbund WFT Vol. 2, Ed. 1, Tree #5116 (imported 8 March 1997), James and his brother William were transported to Barbados in 1655 for being loyal to the King. In 1658, they got on a boat to Williamsburg, Virginia. They subsequently settled in Maryland. See more complete discussion in notes to William Shields, b. 1600.According to John A. Shields, James remained in Barbados a short time before leaving for Maryland, some time before 1660. See discussion under notes to William Shields b. 1600.
James moved from Williamsburg to Baltimore before 1660 and, after a short time, moved to Kent County, Maryland. Later, he settled in Newcastle, Delaware.
William Hathaway, son of George and Eliza Shields Hathaway, wrote in a family history in 1790: "My great-grandfather on the Shields side was James Shields. He was born in County Armagh in the year 1635. His father was born in County Antrim. In about the 20th year of his age, he and his brother and many others were arrested by the English and deported to the Barbados Islands. He came to Baltimore before 1660. He settled first in Kent County and then in Newcastle. His brother John and family came to America about the year 1738 or 1740. I was a mere child when they arrived. Cousin William lived with us about two years, his father having died on the ocean. The family settled in Frederick County. I have not seen any of them for nearly 50 years. Cousin William has a large family. Great-grandfather Shields died when my mother was a little girl."[v28t2460.FTW]
The two brothers, William and James, were deported via a slave ship from Ireland to Barbados by Oliver Cromwell in 1655 for being loyal to King James I. In 1658, they obtained passage to Williamsburg, VA and soon after settled in MD.
Information from G. Ronald Hurd of Vienna, VA, and letter to Walter Davidson from Ila and Oliver Shields of Veneta, OR (1 May 1983).
Clara Anderson gave birth dates.
Letter of Opal Lousin to Jean: July 22, 1985.
Please pass this information on to anyone who is interested so that no one else will have the expense to get a copy of this Will, etc. I don't know where I got the information which caused me to write for Andrew Scott's Will in Lancaster Co. but I firmly believe that it is not our Andrew Scott line.
I am enclosing a copy for your use. When son John was executor of the estate in 1794 and again there in Lancaster Co. to sell the 40 acres to Emor Davis in 1829, I don't see how it could possibly be our line. As I understand it and presume it to be more true, there was a John Scott who married Ann Wilson and their son was John Wilson Scott born 29 May 1763 in York Co., Pa. John, the older, took his family to Washington Co., Va. and there younger John enlisted in the Revolutionary War. He married two times as we know and died in 1847 in Illinois. I have received some Grandparent Papers for some of the family descended from the Veteran and together with family sheets furnished by some of the descendats, I think there are differences of opinion. However, I won't take time just now to work on that part of it.This is the copy of above will which Opal speaks of, that she does not believe belongs to our Andrew Scott.
WILL OF ANDREW SCOTT p. #340 Volume 1 Lancaster Co., Pa.
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I Andrew Scott of Coleraine Township Lancaster Co., State of Pennsylvania being sick and weakly of body, yet of sound mind and memory thanks and praise be to the giver of mercies finding myself going the way of all flesh I here do make my last will and Testament in way and manner following IMPRIMIS I bequeath my soul unto Almighty God who gave hoping for Salvation thro the merits and Mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ and as for
the worldly goods and benefits that God was Graciously pleased to bestow upon me I leave in way and manner following Viz.
Item, I bequeath and leave unto my too loving and dutiful sons John and Mathew all my Estate personal and real that doth belong to me to be equally Divided Viz. the one half to John and the other half to Mathew the paying the
foflowing sums to the parsons hereafter mentioned.
Item, I leave unto my loving dutiful son David seventy eight pounds which he is not to get until all other debts is paid.
Item, I leave unto my loving Daughter Ann Kenedy one horse creature of the value of ten or Eleven pounds or the Value of it or other cattle if she choose it.
Item, I leave unto my loving Daughter Margaret Brown the value of one quarter Dolar.
Lastly I leave unto my Daughter Jean Donaldson, the sum of one quarter of a Dollar
I also nominate and appoint my said too sons John and Mathew to be my Executors of this my last will and Testament given under my hand and seal this twenty ninth day of January one thousand seven hundred and ninety foure.
Andrew Scott
Signed and Sealed in presence of Alexander Andrews, William Carson.LANCASTER COUNTY, FS.
On the Twenty first day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand seven
hundred & ninety five, Before me the Subscriber personally appeared Alexander
Andrews and William Carson the two Subscribing Witnesses to the foregoing Will.
The said Alexander Andrews and William Carser upon their Solemn oath (taken
with an uplifted hand) according to Law. Did severally declare and say that
they were present and saw and heard Andrew Scott the Testator therein
Instrument in writing as and for his last Will and Testament and that at the
time of the doing thereof he was of sound mind, memory and understanding
according to the best of their Knowledge Observation and Belief.
G. Rofs Register
BE IT REMEMBERED that on the twenty first day of January in the year of our
Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five The Last Will and Testament of Andrew Scott late of Coleran Township in the County of Lancaster Yeoman
deceased Was proved in due form and Matthew Scott the Executors therein named
they having first been duly qualified well and truly to administer the Estate
of the said deceased and especially to Exhibit a true and perfect Inventory
thereof into the Registers Office at Lancaster in one month and to render a
just and true account of their Executorship on said Estate in one year from
this date, or when thereto Lawfulley required. Given under my hand and seal of my said Office. G. Rofs RegisterDAVID SCOTT Vol 5 Deed Book M p. 127
Washington Co., Penn.
David Scott of Washington Co., Pa. signed affidavit that he had received 78
pounds from John Scott and Mathew Scott and therefore he released them and
their heirs on 2nd day of Feb. 1829.
This was the money he had been willed by his father, Andrew Scott.INDENTURE 14 Day of April 1829 - Township of Colerain, Lancaster Co., Penn.
John Scott, Alice Scott, Elizabeth Scott, all of Colerain Twp., Lancaster Co., Pa. to Emor Davis of West Penn. Twp., County of Philadelphia, Pa., deed from Alexander Andrews and wife Abigail dated 6 March 1790, recorded 7th day of December 1790, for consideration stated therein to Andrew Scott, late of
Colerain Twp., menitoned confirmed to him a tract of land in Colerain Twp.,
Lancaster Co., Penn. Book KK, p. 696, dated 7 day Dec. 1790, (Andrew Scott had bought 40 acres described in this paper from Alexander Andrews and wife Abigail in 1790); This tract of land was left by will of Andrew Scott dated 29 day of Jan 1794 to the two sons, John and Mathew.
At some time, possibly after David signed the affidavit showing Mathew
which made it look as if he were still living, Mathew Scott died intestate and so John and Mathew Scott's wife, Alice and daughter Elizabeth, wanted to sell the land for $200.00 to Emor Davis. This indenture was recorded 20th day April 1829.AFN: KWS7-T6 LDS Records.Alternate name found in GEDCOM file: ANDREW Scott
AFN: KWS7-F4 LDS Records Alternate name found in GEDCOM file: Samuel /Scott/