Shadrach Webster and Sarah Campbell
Based solely on the 1800 and 1830 census records, it appears likely that Shadrach Webster was born between 1770 and 1774, and that Sarah was born between 1774 and 1784.
The earliest record that I have found for Shadrach is an entry for “Shadrik Webster” on the 1798 tax roll for Martin's District, in Stokes County, North Carolina. Shadrach was assessed for one white pole, indicating that he was at least 21 years of age, but he did not own a horse, or any land. This tax roll is not in alphabetical order, and I suspect that the sequence of names reflects the order in which the residents of Martin’s District appeared to report their “taxables”. The entry for “Shadrik Webster” immediately followed an entry for a Joshua Cox, who was assessed for 1025 acres of land, two white polls, and five black polls.
I will mention at this point an internet posting made some years ago by another researcher, which indicated that Shadrach administered the estate of his father in Rockingham County, North Carolina, in 1800. While it may be true, I have not found any evidence, to date, to substantiate this claim.
The marriage bonds of Stokes County include a record of the marriage of Shadrach Webster to Sarah Campbell, daughter of “our” William and Lydia Campbell, on September 5, 1800. Their bondsman was Edward Moore.
The 1800 census of the Salisbury District of Stokes County included the “Shaderick Webster” family. The household consisted of one male aged 26-44 (probably Shadrach), one female aged 16-25 (probably his wife, Sarah), one male 0-9 years of age (probably a young son), and two slaves. The census of the Shadrach Webster family appears to have been enumerated after their marriage in September of 1800. In fact, the 1800 census was scheduled to commence on August 4, 1800, and those responsible were given nine months to complete their work. The existence of two slaves in the household is curious. It is my impression that Shadrach Webster was a man of limited means, and I doubt that he could have afforded to purchase slaves, particularly as young as he was in 1800. The slaves could have been a gift from his wife’s family, or, perhaps more likely, if Shadrach was administering his father’s estate in 1800, he might have inherited the slaves from his father.
The 1801 Stokes County tax roll for Capt. Shipp’s District, prepared by Matthew Moore, includes an entry for Shadrach Webster, who was assessed for one white poll (himself) and one black poll (a slave). Perhaps Shadrach had sold one of the two slaves enumerated in his household in the 1800 census record. Other entries in Capt. Shipp’s District included Richard Cox, who owned 1260 acres of land and three slaves; Joshua Cox, who owned 975 acres and five slaves; and a William Campbell, who owned 156 acres of land. I believe that Joshua Cox was Richard Cox’s brother.
In 1802, Shadrach Webster again appeared on the Stokes County tax roll for Capt. Shipp's District. John Martin apparently prepared the tax roll for this district in 1802. Shadrach was again assessed for one white poll and one black poll. Like the 1798 tax roll, this one has not been re-ordered in alpha sequence, so I suspect the sequence reflects the sequence in which the men of that District appeared to report their taxables. Among the 93 names which appear on this tax roll were Richard Cox, who owned 1260 acres of land and four slaves, and Joshua Cox Sr., who owned 975 acres and five slaves. Shadrach Webster’s name immediately followed that of Joshua Cox Sr. in both 1798 and 1802, suggesting to me that these two men may have traveled to the designated reporting place together to report their taxable. While it is pure speculation at this point, I would not be surprised to learn that Shadrach and Joshua Cox Sr. were connected in some way. Perhaps their families were related, or, more likely, Shadrach worked for Joshua Cox, and perhaps lived on Joshua’s land.
In 1803, Shadrach Webster was listed on the Stokes County tax roll for Capt. Easley's District. But, it appears that Shadrach had not moved his family since the prior year. Instead, it appears that a different Magistrate has been appointed for the District formerly referred to as Capt. Shipp’s District. The Magistrates of the Districts changed frequently. In 1803, there were 87 tax roll entries in Capt. Easley’s District, similar to the 93 entries in Capt. Shipp’s District the prior year. John Martin prepared the tax roll for Capt. Easley’s District in 1803, just as he had for Capt. Shipp’s District in 1802. And many of the same names appear in Capt. Easley’s District in 1803 that appeared in Capt. Shipp’s District in 1802. Shadrach reported two polls. I assume one was white (Shadrach), and one was black (a slave). White polls and black polls were not separately reported in Capt. Easley’s District in 1803. Other entries in Capt. Easley’s District included Richard Cox, who reported 1266 acres and four polls; Joshua Cox Sr., who reported 975 acres and seven polls; a William Campbell, who reported 156 acres and two polls; and Elisha Beller (brother of Eli Beller, who was married to Shadrach’s sister-in-law, Mary Campbell), who reported 95 acres, and one poll. Again, the entries on this tax roll appear to be in the order reported, and Shadrach Webster’s entry immediately followed that of Joshua Cox Sr.
On December 5, 1803, "Latishia" Moore, as Executrix, and Edward Moore and William Moore, as Executors, of the Last Will and Testament of Matthew Moore, deceased, sold 25 acres of property to Johnson Clement, of Stokes County, for $1000. Johnson Clement was one of Matthew Moore’s sons-in-law. The land sold to Johnson Clement was located on the waters of Johns branch, on the North side of the Dan River. The land had originally been granted to Matthew Moore on May 4, 1795. The deed was signed by "Latishia" Moore, Edward Moore, and Wm Moore. The deed was witnessed by Shadrach Webster, and proven in open court by the oath of Shadrach Webster. I suspect that this Edward Moore, son of Matthew and Latitia (Dalton) Moore, was the same Edward Moore who served as Bondsman when Shadrach and Sarah were married in 1800.
The tax rolls of Stokes County are incomplete. The next tax roll on which I located an entry for Shadrach Webster was the 1808 tax roll for the Peters Creek District of Stokes County. I suspect that Shadrach moved his family between 1803 and 1808, as Richard Cox and Joshua Cox were both listed in the Quaker Gap District in 1808. Shadrach was assessed for one white poll, and one black poll, but still owned no land.
In 1808 or 1809, Shadrach apparently became a landowner for the first time. The 1809 tax roll for the Peters Creek District, in Stokes County, included an entry for Shadrach Webster, who reported 216 acres of land, one white poll, and one black poll. To date, I have not been able to locate any transaction associated with Shadrach’s acquisition of this land. My suspicion is that the land may have represented his share of his father estate, but I have no evidence to support that suspicion.
Shadrach had not owned that 216 acres very long when he decided to sell the property. On January 27, 1810, Charles Wilson, of Stokes County, gave Shadrach a note for $200. The note was due the last day of September, 1812. It appears that Shadrach agreed to transfer ownership of his 216 acres of land to Charles Wilson upon payment of the note.
I have not been able to locate the Shadrach Webster family in the 1810 census of Stokes County. I suspect Shadrach had moved his family to Madison County, Mississippi Territory, before the census-taker arrived in his neighborhood. The 1810 census was enumerated between August 6, 1810, and June 6, 1811.
To date, I have identified one male, and four females, apparently born between 1800 and 1810, who I believe were children of Shadrach and Sarah (Campbell) Webster. The names of these individuals were John, Nancy, Lydia, Sarah and Tamara, who was also called Tamsey. This may be an appropriate point to mention that the 1810 census of Rockingham County, North Carolina, directly east of Stokes County, includes an entry for a Tamsey Webster. The Tamsey Webster household consisted of two males aged 0-9, and one female aged 16-25. Might this Tamsey Webster have been a younger sister, or sister-in-law, of Shadrach Webster?
I suspect that Shadrach Webster made arrangement to sell his Stokes County land in January of 1810 in preparation for a move with his family to Madison County, in the Mississippi Territory. There is evidence that Shadrach and his family arrived in Madison County during the first six months of 1810. A Madison County "List of Taxable Property", dated July 19, 1810, includes the name “Shadrick Webster”.
A Madison County tax list for 1811 also includes an entry for “Shadrach Webster”. This tax list includes an indication of the number of acres of land owned by each individual, but it appears that Shadrach had not yet acquired any land in Madison County. He was assessed, however, for one white poll, and six slaves, and paid $5.50 in Territorial Taxes.
Shadrach Webster’s ownership of six slaves in 1811 raises questions in my mind. In 1808, after eight years of marriage, Shadrach owned one slave, and no land. Then, in 1808 or 1809, Shadrach acquired 216 acres of land. By 1811, Shadrach had migrated to Madison County, but still owned the 216 acres of land in Stokes County, and owned six slaves. Slaves were expensive to purchase, often costing several hundred dollars each. The relatively sudden change in Shadrach’s financial situation suggests to me that settlement of an inheritance might have been involved.
Following the migration of Shadrach and Sarah and their family to Madison County in 1810, there is evidence that Shadrach Webster was soon held in a position of respect within his new community. On December 22, 1811, Shadrach was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in Madison County.
On August 14, 1810, Gabriel Moore purchased 160 acres of land in Madison County[1]. The patent for this land was issued to Shadrach Webster on Mar 1, 1819. Gabriel Moore obviously sold the land to Shadrach sometime between the purchase date, in 1811, and the patent issue date, in 1819. This land is located about three miles north and one mile west of the village of Hazel Green, and only one-half mile south of the border with Lincoln County, Tennessee. I believe it is likely that Shadrach purchased the land from Gabriel Moore after reporting for the 1811 tax roll, and before reporting for the 1812 tax roll. The 1812 tax roll for Madison County contains an entry for "Shadrick Webster", assessing him $5.80 in Territorial Taxes for 160 acres of land, one white poll, and six slaves.
Gabriel Moore was the son of Matthew and Letitia (Dalton) Moore, and a brother of the Edward Moore who I believe served as Bondsman for Shadrach and Sarah when they married in Stokes County in 1800. Gabriel was born about 1785 in that part of Surry County, North Carolina, which soon thereafter became Stokes County. Gabriel reportedly migrated from Stokes County to the Huntsville area, in Madison County, Mississippi Territory, in 1810, the same year that Shadrach and Sarah, as well as Sarah’s three married sisters, migrated to Madison County. Gabriel Moore was the Assessor and Collector for Madison County in 1811, and went on to be elected Governor of the State of Alabama in 1829.
On October 12, 1812, Shadrach Webster, of Madison County, Mississippi Territory, signed a Power of Attorney, appointing Tucker W. Moore, of Stokes County, North Carolina, to receive of Charles Wilson the sum of two hundred dollars of the United States, upon the note given by Charles Wilson to Shadrach Webster in Stokes County in January of 1810. Shadrach also empowered his attorney to make to Charles Wilson a deed of conveyance to the tract of land on which Charles Wilson was then living, agreeable to the Old deed, of 216 acres. The Power of Attorney was signed by Shadrach Webster, witnessed by Edwin Hickman, and proved in open court by oath of Edwin Hickman in the December 1813 term of the Stokes County Court. I have not been able to locate Charles Wilson in the 1810 census of Stokes County, but did locate Edwin Hickman in the Peters Creek District. It is interesting to note that Tucker W. Moore, who Shadrach appointed to serve as his attorney in Stokes County, was another son of Matthew and Lititia (Dalton) Moore, of Stokes County, and a brother of both the Gabriel Moore from whom Shadrach had recently purchased land in Madison County, Mississippi Territory, and Edward Moore, who I believe served as the Bondsman for the 1800 marriage of Shadrach and Sarah.
The 1813 tax roll for Madison County contains an entry for Shadrach Webster, assessing him $.48 in Territorial Tax for his 160 acres of land, as well as $3.64 3/4 for one white poll and five slaves.
It took fourteen months, but Shadrach’s attorney in Stokes County was finally able to complete the transaction authorized by the Power of Attorney completed by Shadrach in October of 1812. Unfortunately, the resulting deed transferring ownership of Shadrach’s land to Charles Wilson was apparently never recorded in the deed books of Stokes County—which was not unusual at this point in our history. The Power of Attorney is the only entry for Shadrach Webster in the index to the Stokes County deed books. Fortunately, I was able to locate the original deed in a special collection held by Wake Forest University, and have obtained a copy of that deed.
The deed, signed on December 16, 1813, was between Tucker Woodson Moore, of Stokes County, North Carolina, attorney in fact for Shadrach Webster, of Madison County, Mississippi Territory, and Charles Wilson of Stokes County. Acting on behalf of Shadrach Webster, Tucker Moore sold two tracts of land on Buck Island Creek, in Stokes County, to Charles Wilson for one hundred pounds. One tract was 150 acres[2], and the second was 60 acres[3]. The deed was signed “Shadack Webster” by his attorney in fact, T W Moore.
Buck Island Creek flows from north to south, and flows into the Dan River. The headwaters of Buck Island Creek are about one mile south-southwest of Lawsonville, in north central Stokes County, and the confluence of Buck Island Creek with the Dan River is about four miles south of Lawsonville. The description of the two tracts of land that Shadrach Webster sold to Charles Wilson indicates that Buck Island Creek flowed through both of the tracts. It seems curious to me that a man who apparently could not afford to buy any land the first eight or nine years of his marriage would suddenly purchase two tracts, totaling 210 acres—a significant purchase at that time. I wonder if the land might have been inherited by Shadrach. If we could determine who owned the land before Shadrach acquired it, we might be able to identify Shadrach’s father. To date, however, I’ve not had any success in identifying the prior owner.
Did the Shadrach and Sarah (Campbell) Webster family live on the land Shadrach acquired in 1808 or 1809? It appears likely that they did. Shadrach’s name appeared on the 1808 tax roll of Peters Creek District, but he apparently owned no land at that time. In 1809, his name again appeared on the Peters Creek District tax roll, but he reported owning 216 acres. While the township lines have certainly changed over the years, it is interesting to note that Buck Island Creek falls within the bounds of Peters Creek Township as it exists today.
On August 22, 1814, Shadrach Webster, along with Samuel Allen, Richard Cottral/Cottrell, Christopher Keller and Zadukiah Baker, was appointed by the Madison County Orphans Court to appraise the estate of John Lenox.
The Madison County tax rolls for 1815 include lists of taxables submitted by 14 Districts within the county. Shadrach Webster's tax assessment appears in the report of Capt. Adkinson's District. Shadrach was assessed $.48 in Territorial Taxes for his 160.5 acres of land, and $4.14 2/3 for one white poll and six slaves. Shadrach also appears on the 1816 tax list for Madison County, though I have not seen the original list, and do not have any detail regarding land or slaves.
On January 3, 1815, Samuel Dial made entry on 160 acres of public land in Madison County[4]. The entry was later assigned to Shadrach Webster, sometime after Samuel Dial’s purchase in 1815, and before issuance of the patent to Shadrach Webster on October 7, 1819. This tract of land was located immediately north of the 160 acres that Shadrach earlier purchased from Gabriel Moore, and abutted the border with Lincoln County, Tennessee.
The 1816 tax roll for Madison County, Mississippi Territory, included the name "Shadrack Webster". In November of 1816, Shadrach Webster, along with Wm. Moore, Thomas McGehee, Ezekiel Moore and Sturdy Garner, were appointed by the Madison County Orphans Court to appraise the estate of Isaac Stewart. William Hendricks was the Administrator of the estate, and the appraisal of his personal property of $1148.96 was returned to the Court on December 3, 1816.
When Shadrach’s father-in-law, William Campbell, died in Lincoln County, Tennessee, in 1817, Shadrach was named by William Campbell’s will as one of his two Executors. The other Executor was William’s son, George Campbell. Even though the William Campbell estate included little of value, Shadrach and George served as Executors of the estate for at least six years.
On July 31, 1824, Shadrach Webster and his wife, Sally, made a deed conveying 30 acres of land to Wm S Allen, conditionally, for the use of Elizabeth Miller. Wm S. Allen paid Shadrach and Sally $250 for the Madison County land[5]. Wm S. Allen was the security for Elizabeth Miller on a bond she had given him, promising to pay him the price of the land by December 25 of the same year. If Elizabeth Miller discharged her bond when due, then Wm S. Allen promised to deed the land to Elizabeth Miller. The deed was signed by Shadrach Webster and Sary Webster. To date, I have not been able to determine how Shadrach and Sarah obtained ownership of this land.
On December 8, 1824, the Madison County Court issued a summons for George Campbell and "Shadrick" Webster to appear at the next term of the Court, on the fourth Monday in January of 1825, to answer a plea of debt by Ezekiel Moore. Ezekiel Moore alleged that George and Shadrach owed him $140 on a note, and asked for $50 in damages. The Sheriff served the summons on George Campbell three days later, but later reported that he was not able to find Shadrach in the county. Ezekiel claimed that George and Shadrach had promised to pay off the note in September or October of 1823, but he was unable to provide the precise date the note was made, or date that repayment was due, alleging that he had lost the note. It appears that the suit was dismissed, with costs to be paid by Ezekiel Moore.
On December 5, 1829, Shadrach Webster, and his wife, Sarah, both of Madison County, Alabama, signed a deed transferring ownership of a small tract of one and one-half acres of land[6] to Sturdy Garner Jr., also of Madison County, for the price of $50. The deed was signed by Shadrach Webster and Sarah Webster, and proved by Edm Townsend, J. P., and Saml Lowry, J. P. It appears that this one and one-half acres was part of the 160 acres that Shadrach Webster purchased from Gabriel Moore between 1811 and 1819, and that Sturdy Garner’s mill race commenced on this small tract of land.
Two weeks later, on December 19, 1829, Shadrach Webster, and his wife, Sarah, both of Madison County, signed a deed transferring ownership of a tract of land[7] to David B. Beggarly, also of Madison County. The total area of the land sold was 158 1/2 acres, and the price paid was $700. This land consisted of the 160 acres that Shadrach Webster originally purchased from Gabriel Moore between 1811 and 1819, less the one and one-half acres that Shadrach and Sarah sold to Sturdy Garner two weeks earlier. The deed was signed by S. Webster and Sarah Webster, and proved by Edmd Townsend, J. P., and Saml Lowry, J. P. I suspect that this was the Shadrach Webster “home place” in Madison County.
It appears that Shadrach and Sarah were selling their land in Madison County in preparation for a move to Henry County, Tennessee. The family appears in the 1830 census of Henry County. The household consisted of one male aged 10-14, two males aged 20-29, one male aged 50-59, one female aged 0-4, one female aged 5-9, one female aged 10-14, one female aged 15-19, and one female aged 40-49. While it would be pure speculation at this point to attempt to identify all of the household members, I strongly suspect that the household included the families of at least one, and possible two, of the married children of Shadrach and Sarah Webster.
At this point, I know very little about Shadrach or Sarah Webster after their move to Henry County. All that I can say with a reasonable degree of certainty is that Shadrach was still living in April of 1834. On April 9, 1834, the heirs and legatees of William Campbell sold the 100 acres of land where Sarah’s mother, Lydia Campbell, had continued to live after “our” William Campbell’s death in 1817. Shadrach was one of the heirs who signed the deed selling the property. He did not sign it personally, but was represented by William Horton, who served as Shadrach’s attorney in fact.
[1] Described as the SE 1/4 of Section 2 in Township 1 South of Range 1 West.
[2] Described as “Beginning on a Red oak on the South side of Buck Island Creek running East one hundred and twenty poles to a poplar—North two hundred poles crossing said creek to a post oak—West one hundred and twenty poles to a white oak—thence South two hundred poles crossing said creek to the Beginning”.
[3] Described as “Beginning at a white oak, Running East forty seven poles crossing said creek to a hickory—North two hundred and twenty six poles crossing said creek to a black oak—West forty seven poles to a Red oak—thence South two hundred and twenty six poles to the beginning”.
[4] Described as the NE 1/4 of Section 2 in Township 1 South of Range 1 West.
[5] Described as part of the NW 1/4 of Section 7, Township 1, Range 1 East, containing 30 acres on the south side of the 1/4 section.
[6] Described (in a typewritten extract of the original deed) as "comminging at a Stake running North to an oak tree on the bank of the Creek thence up the Creek to a beech thence to the beginning corner containing one and a half acre be the same more or less".
[7] Described as the SE 1/4 of Sec 2, T 1 R 1 W, with the exception of one and one half acres where Garner's millrace commences.
The earliest record that I have found for Shadrach is an entry for “Shadrik Webster” on the 1798 tax roll for Martin's District, in Stokes County, North Carolina. Shadrach was assessed for one white pole, indicating that he was at least 21 years of age, but he did not own a horse, or any land. This tax roll is not in alphabetical order, and I suspect that the sequence of names reflects the order in which the residents of Martin’s District appeared to report their “taxables”. The entry for “Shadrik Webster” immediately followed an entry for a Joshua Cox, who was assessed for 1025 acres of land, two white polls, and five black polls.
I will mention at this point an internet posting made some years ago by another researcher, which indicated that Shadrach administered the estate of his father in Rockingham County, North Carolina, in 1800. While it may be true, I have not found any evidence, to date, to substantiate this claim.
The marriage bonds of Stokes County include a record of the marriage of Shadrach Webster to Sarah Campbell, daughter of “our” William and Lydia Campbell, on September 5, 1800. Their bondsman was Edward Moore.
The 1800 census of the Salisbury District of Stokes County included the “Shaderick Webster” family. The household consisted of one male aged 26-44 (probably Shadrach), one female aged 16-25 (probably his wife, Sarah), one male 0-9 years of age (probably a young son), and two slaves. The census of the Shadrach Webster family appears to have been enumerated after their marriage in September of 1800. In fact, the 1800 census was scheduled to commence on August 4, 1800, and those responsible were given nine months to complete their work. The existence of two slaves in the household is curious. It is my impression that Shadrach Webster was a man of limited means, and I doubt that he could have afforded to purchase slaves, particularly as young as he was in 1800. The slaves could have been a gift from his wife’s family, or, perhaps more likely, if Shadrach was administering his father’s estate in 1800, he might have inherited the slaves from his father.
The 1801 Stokes County tax roll for Capt. Shipp’s District, prepared by Matthew Moore, includes an entry for Shadrach Webster, who was assessed for one white poll (himself) and one black poll (a slave). Perhaps Shadrach had sold one of the two slaves enumerated in his household in the 1800 census record. Other entries in Capt. Shipp’s District included Richard Cox, who owned 1260 acres of land and three slaves; Joshua Cox, who owned 975 acres and five slaves; and a William Campbell, who owned 156 acres of land. I believe that Joshua Cox was Richard Cox’s brother.
In 1802, Shadrach Webster again appeared on the Stokes County tax roll for Capt. Shipp's District. John Martin apparently prepared the tax roll for this district in 1802. Shadrach was again assessed for one white poll and one black poll. Like the 1798 tax roll, this one has not been re-ordered in alpha sequence, so I suspect the sequence reflects the sequence in which the men of that District appeared to report their taxables. Among the 93 names which appear on this tax roll were Richard Cox, who owned 1260 acres of land and four slaves, and Joshua Cox Sr., who owned 975 acres and five slaves. Shadrach Webster’s name immediately followed that of Joshua Cox Sr. in both 1798 and 1802, suggesting to me that these two men may have traveled to the designated reporting place together to report their taxable. While it is pure speculation at this point, I would not be surprised to learn that Shadrach and Joshua Cox Sr. were connected in some way. Perhaps their families were related, or, more likely, Shadrach worked for Joshua Cox, and perhaps lived on Joshua’s land.
In 1803, Shadrach Webster was listed on the Stokes County tax roll for Capt. Easley's District. But, it appears that Shadrach had not moved his family since the prior year. Instead, it appears that a different Magistrate has been appointed for the District formerly referred to as Capt. Shipp’s District. The Magistrates of the Districts changed frequently. In 1803, there were 87 tax roll entries in Capt. Easley’s District, similar to the 93 entries in Capt. Shipp’s District the prior year. John Martin prepared the tax roll for Capt. Easley’s District in 1803, just as he had for Capt. Shipp’s District in 1802. And many of the same names appear in Capt. Easley’s District in 1803 that appeared in Capt. Shipp’s District in 1802. Shadrach reported two polls. I assume one was white (Shadrach), and one was black (a slave). White polls and black polls were not separately reported in Capt. Easley’s District in 1803. Other entries in Capt. Easley’s District included Richard Cox, who reported 1266 acres and four polls; Joshua Cox Sr., who reported 975 acres and seven polls; a William Campbell, who reported 156 acres and two polls; and Elisha Beller (brother of Eli Beller, who was married to Shadrach’s sister-in-law, Mary Campbell), who reported 95 acres, and one poll. Again, the entries on this tax roll appear to be in the order reported, and Shadrach Webster’s entry immediately followed that of Joshua Cox Sr.
On December 5, 1803, "Latishia" Moore, as Executrix, and Edward Moore and William Moore, as Executors, of the Last Will and Testament of Matthew Moore, deceased, sold 25 acres of property to Johnson Clement, of Stokes County, for $1000. Johnson Clement was one of Matthew Moore’s sons-in-law. The land sold to Johnson Clement was located on the waters of Johns branch, on the North side of the Dan River. The land had originally been granted to Matthew Moore on May 4, 1795. The deed was signed by "Latishia" Moore, Edward Moore, and Wm Moore. The deed was witnessed by Shadrach Webster, and proven in open court by the oath of Shadrach Webster. I suspect that this Edward Moore, son of Matthew and Latitia (Dalton) Moore, was the same Edward Moore who served as Bondsman when Shadrach and Sarah were married in 1800.
The tax rolls of Stokes County are incomplete. The next tax roll on which I located an entry for Shadrach Webster was the 1808 tax roll for the Peters Creek District of Stokes County. I suspect that Shadrach moved his family between 1803 and 1808, as Richard Cox and Joshua Cox were both listed in the Quaker Gap District in 1808. Shadrach was assessed for one white poll, and one black poll, but still owned no land.
In 1808 or 1809, Shadrach apparently became a landowner for the first time. The 1809 tax roll for the Peters Creek District, in Stokes County, included an entry for Shadrach Webster, who reported 216 acres of land, one white poll, and one black poll. To date, I have not been able to locate any transaction associated with Shadrach’s acquisition of this land. My suspicion is that the land may have represented his share of his father estate, but I have no evidence to support that suspicion.
Shadrach had not owned that 216 acres very long when he decided to sell the property. On January 27, 1810, Charles Wilson, of Stokes County, gave Shadrach a note for $200. The note was due the last day of September, 1812. It appears that Shadrach agreed to transfer ownership of his 216 acres of land to Charles Wilson upon payment of the note.
I have not been able to locate the Shadrach Webster family in the 1810 census of Stokes County. I suspect Shadrach had moved his family to Madison County, Mississippi Territory, before the census-taker arrived in his neighborhood. The 1810 census was enumerated between August 6, 1810, and June 6, 1811.
To date, I have identified one male, and four females, apparently born between 1800 and 1810, who I believe were children of Shadrach and Sarah (Campbell) Webster. The names of these individuals were John, Nancy, Lydia, Sarah and Tamara, who was also called Tamsey. This may be an appropriate point to mention that the 1810 census of Rockingham County, North Carolina, directly east of Stokes County, includes an entry for a Tamsey Webster. The Tamsey Webster household consisted of two males aged 0-9, and one female aged 16-25. Might this Tamsey Webster have been a younger sister, or sister-in-law, of Shadrach Webster?
I suspect that Shadrach Webster made arrangement to sell his Stokes County land in January of 1810 in preparation for a move with his family to Madison County, in the Mississippi Territory. There is evidence that Shadrach and his family arrived in Madison County during the first six months of 1810. A Madison County "List of Taxable Property", dated July 19, 1810, includes the name “Shadrick Webster”.
A Madison County tax list for 1811 also includes an entry for “Shadrach Webster”. This tax list includes an indication of the number of acres of land owned by each individual, but it appears that Shadrach had not yet acquired any land in Madison County. He was assessed, however, for one white poll, and six slaves, and paid $5.50 in Territorial Taxes.
Shadrach Webster’s ownership of six slaves in 1811 raises questions in my mind. In 1808, after eight years of marriage, Shadrach owned one slave, and no land. Then, in 1808 or 1809, Shadrach acquired 216 acres of land. By 1811, Shadrach had migrated to Madison County, but still owned the 216 acres of land in Stokes County, and owned six slaves. Slaves were expensive to purchase, often costing several hundred dollars each. The relatively sudden change in Shadrach’s financial situation suggests to me that settlement of an inheritance might have been involved.
Following the migration of Shadrach and Sarah and their family to Madison County in 1810, there is evidence that Shadrach Webster was soon held in a position of respect within his new community. On December 22, 1811, Shadrach was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in Madison County.
On August 14, 1810, Gabriel Moore purchased 160 acres of land in Madison County[1]. The patent for this land was issued to Shadrach Webster on Mar 1, 1819. Gabriel Moore obviously sold the land to Shadrach sometime between the purchase date, in 1811, and the patent issue date, in 1819. This land is located about three miles north and one mile west of the village of Hazel Green, and only one-half mile south of the border with Lincoln County, Tennessee. I believe it is likely that Shadrach purchased the land from Gabriel Moore after reporting for the 1811 tax roll, and before reporting for the 1812 tax roll. The 1812 tax roll for Madison County contains an entry for "Shadrick Webster", assessing him $5.80 in Territorial Taxes for 160 acres of land, one white poll, and six slaves.
Gabriel Moore was the son of Matthew and Letitia (Dalton) Moore, and a brother of the Edward Moore who I believe served as Bondsman for Shadrach and Sarah when they married in Stokes County in 1800. Gabriel was born about 1785 in that part of Surry County, North Carolina, which soon thereafter became Stokes County. Gabriel reportedly migrated from Stokes County to the Huntsville area, in Madison County, Mississippi Territory, in 1810, the same year that Shadrach and Sarah, as well as Sarah’s three married sisters, migrated to Madison County. Gabriel Moore was the Assessor and Collector for Madison County in 1811, and went on to be elected Governor of the State of Alabama in 1829.
On October 12, 1812, Shadrach Webster, of Madison County, Mississippi Territory, signed a Power of Attorney, appointing Tucker W. Moore, of Stokes County, North Carolina, to receive of Charles Wilson the sum of two hundred dollars of the United States, upon the note given by Charles Wilson to Shadrach Webster in Stokes County in January of 1810. Shadrach also empowered his attorney to make to Charles Wilson a deed of conveyance to the tract of land on which Charles Wilson was then living, agreeable to the Old deed, of 216 acres. The Power of Attorney was signed by Shadrach Webster, witnessed by Edwin Hickman, and proved in open court by oath of Edwin Hickman in the December 1813 term of the Stokes County Court. I have not been able to locate Charles Wilson in the 1810 census of Stokes County, but did locate Edwin Hickman in the Peters Creek District. It is interesting to note that Tucker W. Moore, who Shadrach appointed to serve as his attorney in Stokes County, was another son of Matthew and Lititia (Dalton) Moore, of Stokes County, and a brother of both the Gabriel Moore from whom Shadrach had recently purchased land in Madison County, Mississippi Territory, and Edward Moore, who I believe served as the Bondsman for the 1800 marriage of Shadrach and Sarah.
The 1813 tax roll for Madison County contains an entry for Shadrach Webster, assessing him $.48 in Territorial Tax for his 160 acres of land, as well as $3.64 3/4 for one white poll and five slaves.
It took fourteen months, but Shadrach’s attorney in Stokes County was finally able to complete the transaction authorized by the Power of Attorney completed by Shadrach in October of 1812. Unfortunately, the resulting deed transferring ownership of Shadrach’s land to Charles Wilson was apparently never recorded in the deed books of Stokes County—which was not unusual at this point in our history. The Power of Attorney is the only entry for Shadrach Webster in the index to the Stokes County deed books. Fortunately, I was able to locate the original deed in a special collection held by Wake Forest University, and have obtained a copy of that deed.
The deed, signed on December 16, 1813, was between Tucker Woodson Moore, of Stokes County, North Carolina, attorney in fact for Shadrach Webster, of Madison County, Mississippi Territory, and Charles Wilson of Stokes County. Acting on behalf of Shadrach Webster, Tucker Moore sold two tracts of land on Buck Island Creek, in Stokes County, to Charles Wilson for one hundred pounds. One tract was 150 acres[2], and the second was 60 acres[3]. The deed was signed “Shadack Webster” by his attorney in fact, T W Moore.
Buck Island Creek flows from north to south, and flows into the Dan River. The headwaters of Buck Island Creek are about one mile south-southwest of Lawsonville, in north central Stokes County, and the confluence of Buck Island Creek with the Dan River is about four miles south of Lawsonville. The description of the two tracts of land that Shadrach Webster sold to Charles Wilson indicates that Buck Island Creek flowed through both of the tracts. It seems curious to me that a man who apparently could not afford to buy any land the first eight or nine years of his marriage would suddenly purchase two tracts, totaling 210 acres—a significant purchase at that time. I wonder if the land might have been inherited by Shadrach. If we could determine who owned the land before Shadrach acquired it, we might be able to identify Shadrach’s father. To date, however, I’ve not had any success in identifying the prior owner.
Did the Shadrach and Sarah (Campbell) Webster family live on the land Shadrach acquired in 1808 or 1809? It appears likely that they did. Shadrach’s name appeared on the 1808 tax roll of Peters Creek District, but he apparently owned no land at that time. In 1809, his name again appeared on the Peters Creek District tax roll, but he reported owning 216 acres. While the township lines have certainly changed over the years, it is interesting to note that Buck Island Creek falls within the bounds of Peters Creek Township as it exists today.
On August 22, 1814, Shadrach Webster, along with Samuel Allen, Richard Cottral/Cottrell, Christopher Keller and Zadukiah Baker, was appointed by the Madison County Orphans Court to appraise the estate of John Lenox.
The Madison County tax rolls for 1815 include lists of taxables submitted by 14 Districts within the county. Shadrach Webster's tax assessment appears in the report of Capt. Adkinson's District. Shadrach was assessed $.48 in Territorial Taxes for his 160.5 acres of land, and $4.14 2/3 for one white poll and six slaves. Shadrach also appears on the 1816 tax list for Madison County, though I have not seen the original list, and do not have any detail regarding land or slaves.
On January 3, 1815, Samuel Dial made entry on 160 acres of public land in Madison County[4]. The entry was later assigned to Shadrach Webster, sometime after Samuel Dial’s purchase in 1815, and before issuance of the patent to Shadrach Webster on October 7, 1819. This tract of land was located immediately north of the 160 acres that Shadrach earlier purchased from Gabriel Moore, and abutted the border with Lincoln County, Tennessee.
The 1816 tax roll for Madison County, Mississippi Territory, included the name "Shadrack Webster". In November of 1816, Shadrach Webster, along with Wm. Moore, Thomas McGehee, Ezekiel Moore and Sturdy Garner, were appointed by the Madison County Orphans Court to appraise the estate of Isaac Stewart. William Hendricks was the Administrator of the estate, and the appraisal of his personal property of $1148.96 was returned to the Court on December 3, 1816.
When Shadrach’s father-in-law, William Campbell, died in Lincoln County, Tennessee, in 1817, Shadrach was named by William Campbell’s will as one of his two Executors. The other Executor was William’s son, George Campbell. Even though the William Campbell estate included little of value, Shadrach and George served as Executors of the estate for at least six years.
On July 31, 1824, Shadrach Webster and his wife, Sally, made a deed conveying 30 acres of land to Wm S Allen, conditionally, for the use of Elizabeth Miller. Wm S. Allen paid Shadrach and Sally $250 for the Madison County land[5]. Wm S. Allen was the security for Elizabeth Miller on a bond she had given him, promising to pay him the price of the land by December 25 of the same year. If Elizabeth Miller discharged her bond when due, then Wm S. Allen promised to deed the land to Elizabeth Miller. The deed was signed by Shadrach Webster and Sary Webster. To date, I have not been able to determine how Shadrach and Sarah obtained ownership of this land.
On December 8, 1824, the Madison County Court issued a summons for George Campbell and "Shadrick" Webster to appear at the next term of the Court, on the fourth Monday in January of 1825, to answer a plea of debt by Ezekiel Moore. Ezekiel Moore alleged that George and Shadrach owed him $140 on a note, and asked for $50 in damages. The Sheriff served the summons on George Campbell three days later, but later reported that he was not able to find Shadrach in the county. Ezekiel claimed that George and Shadrach had promised to pay off the note in September or October of 1823, but he was unable to provide the precise date the note was made, or date that repayment was due, alleging that he had lost the note. It appears that the suit was dismissed, with costs to be paid by Ezekiel Moore.
On December 5, 1829, Shadrach Webster, and his wife, Sarah, both of Madison County, Alabama, signed a deed transferring ownership of a small tract of one and one-half acres of land[6] to Sturdy Garner Jr., also of Madison County, for the price of $50. The deed was signed by Shadrach Webster and Sarah Webster, and proved by Edm Townsend, J. P., and Saml Lowry, J. P. It appears that this one and one-half acres was part of the 160 acres that Shadrach Webster purchased from Gabriel Moore between 1811 and 1819, and that Sturdy Garner’s mill race commenced on this small tract of land.
Two weeks later, on December 19, 1829, Shadrach Webster, and his wife, Sarah, both of Madison County, signed a deed transferring ownership of a tract of land[7] to David B. Beggarly, also of Madison County. The total area of the land sold was 158 1/2 acres, and the price paid was $700. This land consisted of the 160 acres that Shadrach Webster originally purchased from Gabriel Moore between 1811 and 1819, less the one and one-half acres that Shadrach and Sarah sold to Sturdy Garner two weeks earlier. The deed was signed by S. Webster and Sarah Webster, and proved by Edmd Townsend, J. P., and Saml Lowry, J. P. I suspect that this was the Shadrach Webster “home place” in Madison County.
It appears that Shadrach and Sarah were selling their land in Madison County in preparation for a move to Henry County, Tennessee. The family appears in the 1830 census of Henry County. The household consisted of one male aged 10-14, two males aged 20-29, one male aged 50-59, one female aged 0-4, one female aged 5-9, one female aged 10-14, one female aged 15-19, and one female aged 40-49. While it would be pure speculation at this point to attempt to identify all of the household members, I strongly suspect that the household included the families of at least one, and possible two, of the married children of Shadrach and Sarah Webster.
At this point, I know very little about Shadrach or Sarah Webster after their move to Henry County. All that I can say with a reasonable degree of certainty is that Shadrach was still living in April of 1834. On April 9, 1834, the heirs and legatees of William Campbell sold the 100 acres of land where Sarah’s mother, Lydia Campbell, had continued to live after “our” William Campbell’s death in 1817. Shadrach was one of the heirs who signed the deed selling the property. He did not sign it personally, but was represented by William Horton, who served as Shadrach’s attorney in fact.
[1] Described as the SE 1/4 of Section 2 in Township 1 South of Range 1 West.
[2] Described as “Beginning on a Red oak on the South side of Buck Island Creek running East one hundred and twenty poles to a poplar—North two hundred poles crossing said creek to a post oak—West one hundred and twenty poles to a white oak—thence South two hundred poles crossing said creek to the Beginning”.
[3] Described as “Beginning at a white oak, Running East forty seven poles crossing said creek to a hickory—North two hundred and twenty six poles crossing said creek to a black oak—West forty seven poles to a Red oak—thence South two hundred and twenty six poles to the beginning”.
[4] Described as the NE 1/4 of Section 2 in Township 1 South of Range 1 West.
[5] Described as part of the NW 1/4 of Section 7, Township 1, Range 1 East, containing 30 acres on the south side of the 1/4 section.
[6] Described (in a typewritten extract of the original deed) as "comminging at a Stake running North to an oak tree on the bank of the Creek thence up the Creek to a beech thence to the beginning corner containing one and a half acre be the same more or less".
[7] Described as the SE 1/4 of Sec 2, T 1 R 1 W, with the exception of one and one half acres where Garner's millrace commences.