Shadrack Forrester's Miscellany
Entire page from: GEDCOM from Amelia Forrest Bogard of Groesbeck, Texas
http://members.aol.com/lforroots/gedcom.html
James A Oliphant, LA, sent me (Amelia) in August 1994 Shadrack's wife's name "Jane" found in LAND DEED GENEALOGY OF BEDFORD COUNTY, p. 198. From DEED BOOK "EE": "Page 337 - 11 Oct 1834. The heirs of Shadrick Forrest, deceased, sold to John H. Wilson, all of Bedford Co., TN, land that the said Shadrick Forrest willed to his wife Jane Forrest during her natural life. Borders Elisha Forrest, McLean's corner and Columbia Road leading from Columbia to Murfreesboro. 240 acres; Wit: Lawson H. Rickman and Elisha Forrest. Reg: 11 Aug 1835." I ordered a copy of this document from Bedford Co. TN and received it in November 1995. I quote from it: "...the said legatees hath hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals ..." Those heirs who signed: "Elisha Forrest, Fielding Lewis, Henry Lewis, David (initial & last name hard to read - initial looks like a small u or m - last name clearly starts with L - could be Lovins), and Shadrack Lewis." I, Amelia Forrest Bogard, was approved for membership in DAR in December 1995 on my Forrest line with this document as final proof that Elisha was son of Shadrack. Census records for 1790 through 1830 were also used a documentation.
Mr. Oliphant sent me a page 207 from a book (source not given) in November 1995. I quote: "Page 150 - 11 Nov 1835. I, James W. Lovins of Shelby Co., Illinois, having special trust and confidence in Andrew Flemming of Bedford Co., TN, appoint him my Attorney to oversee my interest in the estate of Jane Forrest widow of Shadrick Forrest, late of Bedford Co., TN. Reg: 31 Feb 1836."
Shadrack had a rather large family but not all of his children's names are known. He was listed on the Census in Hillsborough District, Orange County, NC in 1790, in Orange County, NC in 1800 and 1810. He was in Bedford County, TN on the tax list for heads of household along with his sons Shadrack, Jr., and Nathan in 1812 and he was on the 1820 Census for Bedford County. His son Elisha appears to still be living with him in 1820, and there are no females listed.
Bedford Co., TN Deed Book "N" pp. 400-403, 1821 names John F. Forrest of Orange Co., NC. Could this be a son of Shadrack? I do not know where I got the following statement. I copied it from notes that I had received from someone, but I do not remember ... I have been unable to verify the statement. (Shadrack served in the Revolutionary Army as a Junior Lieutenant and was on a Court Martial Board with John Taylor in 1782.) Abstract of Orange Co., NC Deed Book 5, p. 31, 11 Jan. 1793 acres conveyed to "Capt. Shadrick Forest." ??? I did receive from the State of North Carolina, Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History, Raleigh, NC 27601-2807, stamped with seal and signed 22 June 1995, verification that Shadrach Forrest was a patriot during the American Revolution. "This verifies that the following information is recorded in the manuscript volume in the custody of the State Archives titled 'Revolutionary Army Accounts' (Volume C. Page 93, Folio--): Heading: The United States of America To the State of North Caroline Dr For Sundries furnished and Cash paid the Militia of North Carolina Virginia and South Carolina as Allow'd by the Auditors of Hillsboro District in July 1783 as per Report 83/Number: 3010/To whome issued: Shadrach Forest/Number of voucher: 2518/Amount: 9 pounds, 2 shillings specie /Other information: None." Copies of two vouchers were enclosed: #2528, dated June 10, 1783, & #4004, dated August 20, 1783. Each stated that Shadrack Forrest had exhibited his claim and was allowed a stated amount. Both were signed by John Nichols and Alex Mebane.
The following land transactions are recorded in Orange Co., NC:
19 Jan 1776: To Shadrack Forrest from Charles Abercrombie for 5 pounds - 5 acre tract on Ellebee Creek.
24 Jan 1794: Ben Rhodes to Shadrack Forrest for sum of 18.6.8 - one 29 1/3 acre tract on Ellebee Creek.
26 Nov 1794: Cornelius Fogarty to Shadrack Forrest, Esp., for 19 pounds, 15 shillings - 79 acres on Ellebee Creek.
30 Aug 1797: David Burton to Shadrack Forrest - Land on Ellebee Creek (All State Grants)
22 Nov 1799: Daniel McDanile to Shadrack Forrest for 75 pounds - 150 acres on Crossroads between Ellebee Creek and waters of New Hope.
12 Nov 1800: Shadrack Forrest to Nathan Forrest for #307 - 219 acres on Wolf Branch of Ellebee Creek.
21 Jan 1808: Shadrack Forrest to Reppo Scoggin for 120 pounds - 152 acres on Ellebee Creek.
21 Sep 1811: Shadrack Forrest to Henry Forrest for 100 pounds - 199 1/2 acres on Ellebee Creek. Deed Book 14, p. 60, 21 Sept 1811: Shadrach Forrest to Henry Forrest for 100 pound specie ... tract on Waters of Ellebee Creek cont. 199 1/2 acres. Wit: Shadrack Forrest Jr. & Veazy Ferrell sig. Shadrach Forrest. Proved by oath of Ferrell Re. Feb. 1812.
21 Sep 1811: Shadrack Forrest to Nicholas Atkins for 1,011 pounds - 2 adjoining tracts containing a total 1,011 acres on south side of Ellebee Creek.
Other land transaction abstracts involving Shadrack and other Forrests are in ORANGE CO. STATE LAND GRANTS, ORANGE CO. (NC) DEED BOOKS 2,3,5,6 & 9. (I have copies of pages from the above.) Stephen and Henry Forrest are among those listed. Were they sons of Shadrack???
A Stephen Forrester 26, Elizabeth 30, Martha 5, Elijah 7/12, NC, Hi-842-119 are on 1850 Census TN.
1790 Census, Orange County, NC - Shadrack is shown as a Head of Household. No family members are indicated on this census.
1800 Census, Orange County, NC - Shadrack is a Head of Household. Listed: Males under 10 - 1; 10 to 16 - 1; 16 to 26 - 3; 45 and over - 1 (self). Total of 5 sons. Elisha is 16 on this Census. Females 10 to 16 - 2; 45 and over - 1 (wife).
1810 Census, Orange County, NC - Shadrack is Head of Household. Listed Males 16 to 26 - 1; 45 and over 1 (self). Females 16 to 26 - 1; 45 and over - 1 (wife). Elisha is 26 on this Census.
Shadrack sold out in 1811 and migrated to Sumner Co., Tennessee with his son Nathan and Nathan's family. They settled near present-day Gallatin, then moved to Bedford County in the Duck River Valley.
1812 Bedford County, TN Tax List - Heads of Household. Shadrack Forrest, Shadrack Forrest, Jr., and Nathan Forrest.
1820 Census, Bedford County, TN - Shadrack is Head of Household. Males 26 to 45 - 1; 45 and over - 1 (self). No females listed. Elisha is 36 on this Census.
1830 Census, Bedford County, TN - Elisha Forrest is head of household. Shadrack does not appear anymore. Elisha married in 1821.
THAT DEVIL FORREST states that Shadrack and family moved from North Carolina to Tennessee when grandson William was 8 years old and settled north of the Cumberland River, not far from present town of Gallatin, in Sumner County. Two years later they moved into the Duck River country in 1808 in what was then Bedford County, Tennessee.
Other Forrest books:
"FIRST WITH THE MOST" FORREST by Robert Selph Henry, copyright 1991, Mallard Press.
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE (From the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford, and Marshall Counties: Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes. Reminiscences, Observations, Etc, Etc.); Nashville: The Goodspeed Publishing Co.
Source: Barbara Westman, 3891 Archwood Road, Cameron Park, CA 95682-9015: Had Shadrack's wife as LEDBETTER, d. 1806, Sumner, TN. Was also the source of Shadrack's additional children, Elizabeth and Silas.
THE ROSTER OF TEXAS DAUGHTERS REV ANCESTORS, Texas, 1976. This source lists Patriot Henry LEDBETTER as father of Jeanne who married Shadrack Forrest.
Caswell Co. Record of Wills Bk. B, heirs of Henry Ledbetter, Print from microfilm, received 29 Jan 1996 from DEPT OF CULTURAL RESOURCES, DIV. OF ARCHIVES & HISTORY, 109 E. Jones St. Raleigh, NC 27601-2807. Document of July Court 1785 not clearly legible, but signatures of heirs clearly include "legatees" Joel Ledbetter, Dan'l Ledbetter, Prudence Ledbetter & Elisabeth Ledbetter (of Caswell Co., NC), and Shadrack Forrest (of Orange Co., NC).
Bedford Co., TN Land Deed Records: 1811 - Book "C" p. 488 - Joseph Brittain 471 acres to Shadrack Forrest for $1200. Witnesses were J.W. Lovins, Nathan Forester & Shadrack.