Nancy Shelby (1792 - 1828)

Born 25 Aug 1792 in Stanford, Lincoln, Kentucky

Ancestors

Wife of Samuel Kelsey Nelson — married 20 Mar 1811 in Lincoln, Kentucky, United States

Died 1828 at about age 35 in Tallahassee, Leon, Florida

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Katharine Shelby [send private message]

Biography

Nancy Shelby was born August 25, 1792, a daughter of Isaac Shelby, First Governor of Kentucky and his wife, Susan Hart. Nancy's paternal grandfather was Brigadier General Evan Shelby Jr. born in Tregaron, Cardinan Shire, Wales, who immigrated to American and served in the American Revolutionary War. Evan is honored as Daughters of the American Revolutionary War Ancestor #A102420. Nancy's father was a Colonel in the Virginia Militia and one of the heroes of the Battle of King's Mountain. Isaac also served as an officer, during the War of 1812. ^[1] Isaac is honored as DAR Ancestor #A102420.

Nancy was born at the family estate, "Traveler's Rest." Isaac died at his home on July 18, 1826 and was buried on a spot chosen by himself "as the spot on which his first camp fire was lighted." ^[2] The estate remained in the Shelby family for over one hundred and forty years. In 1951 the family cemetery was designated a State shrine by the Kentucky Department of Parks. One senses, in the small enclosed plot surrounded by aged trees, located in the midst of a large field on the property within the sight of the house, that Shelby himself may have planted. ^[3]

On March 20, 1811, at "Traveller's Rest," in Lincoln county, Kentucky, Nancy married the Reverend Samuel Kelsay Nelson. ^[4] The original marriage records may be viewed here: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4F-H3MR-P?cc=1804888

Reverend Samuel Kelsay Nelson was born October 9, 1787, in Washington county, Tennessee, a son of Henry Nelson, IV and Ann Kelsay. Children of Nancy and Samuel include:

• Ann Kelsay Nelson, born September 20, 1813, in Lincoln county, Kentucky, died August 11, 1814, at the age of 10 months

• Isaac Shelby Nelson, named for Nancy's father, born in April, 1815, killed tragically at the age of two on February 13, 1818

• Margaret Ann Nelson, born June 27, 1820, died April 3, 1821, at the age of 9 months

After the loss of three infant children, Nancy's husband, Samuel, died May 7, 1827, in Tallahassee, Florida, at the age of 39. From Lineage and tradition of the family of John Springs III, by Julia Amanda (Springs) Gibson, published 1921, page 72:

• "Nancy Shelby, daughter of Susanna Hart and Gov. Isaac Shelby, married Rev. Samuel K. Nelson, of the Presbyterian Church, and died in Florida in 1828. Their children: Susan Nelson, Shelby Nelson, both died young. ^[5]

Nancy (Shelby) Nelson is buried in the Shelby Traveller's Rest Burying Ground, also known as Isaac Shelby Cemetery, near Stanford, Lincoln county, Kentucky. Her Find A Grave memorial erroneously gives her year of death as 1815, which is impossible, since she is also connected to her daughter Margaret Ann's memorial and Margaret Ann was born in 1820. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5904193/nancy-nelson

Sources

1. ↑ https://archive.org/details/lineagetradition00gibs/page/50/mode/1up
2. ↑ Lineage and tradition of the family of John Springs III, by Julia Amanda (Springs) Gibson, published 1921
3. ↑ National Register of Historic Places digitized here: https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/00cb9fb7-400c-4a74-9e67-93ea3b7eb087
4. ↑ "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1D-G2G1 : 9 March 2021), Samuel K Nelson and Nancy Shelby, 30 Mar 1811; citing Marriage, Lincoln, Kentucky, United States, various county clerks and county courts, Kentucky; FHL microfilm 192,263
5. ↑ https://archive.org/details/lineagetradition00gibs/page/n144/mode/1up

Acknowledgments

• This person was created through the import of LaBach Family TreeApril28_2011.ged on 05 May 2011