Catherine (Shelby) Thompson (1742 - 1833)

Born 1742 in Maryland, British Colonial America

Ancestors

Wife of James Thompson — married 1776 in Augusta, Virginia

Descendants

Died 1833 at about age 91 in Abingdon, Washington, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Descendant of Mary Stewart, Queen of Scots.

Descendant of Gustav Adolf Vasa (Vasa-12).

Catherine (Shelby) Thompson was a Maryland colonist.

Catherine was the daughter of Evan Shelby, and Letitia Cox.^[1]

She was the sister of Gov. Isaac Shelby.

About 1776, she married James Thompson and they moved to Washington County, Virginia.^[2][3]

She married Captain Jacob Thompson Sheriff of Fincastle County in 1776, in Washington, Virginia, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 1 daughter.

She died in 1833, in Abingdon, Washington, Virginia, United States, at the age of 78, and was buried in Abingdon, Washington, Virginia, United States.^[4]

Research Notes

Will of Evan Shelby, signed Feb. 21, 1778, probated Oct. 25, 1798 in Washington County, Virginia

"I Evan Shelby being of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, do dispose of my Estate as follows, Viz. It is my desire that all my just debts be first paid. Item I give to my eldest son John Shelby that Tract of land whereon he now lives on Wattago River in the State of North Carolina the purchase money and officers fees that may be due for the said land is to be paid out of my Estate by executors hereafter to be mentioned, my land laying on Buffalow Creek a branch of Wattago aforesaid, I desire my executors to sell and dispose of all the money arising there from to be equally divided between my two grandchildren Evan and Sarah Shelby. Also I give to my said grandchildren to be delivered to them in one year after my death each one a mare to be of the value of twenty-five pounds each; I give and bequeath to my son Isaac Shelby, all my part of that tract of land laying in Washington County and State of Virginia known by the name of the Hazel Lands, being one third part of the said whole tract (being on the south and southeast end thereof) which I purchased from Col. William Preston in partnership with John Shelby son and in case the said land cannot be made good by the said William Preston according to my purchase of him, then my desire is that my son Isaac Shelby shall receive in lieu thereof one hundred and fifty pounds out of the remaining part of my estate. I give to my daughter Catherine Shelby Six Hundred pounds Virginia currency to be paid to her as soon as my lands lying in the State of Maryland can be sold by my executors, and if the sale of the said lands do not amount to six hundred pounds the deficiency to be paid her by my executors out of the remainder of my estate. I also give and bequeath to my said daughter Catherine the mare and her two colts which I had formerly given to her and four cows, also a feather bed, and furniture for it; I give and bequeath the remaining part of my estate both real and personal to my fours sons vis. Isaac Shelby, James Shelby, Evan Shelby and Moses Shelby to be equally and fairly divided among them, and lastly my desire is that Isaac Shelby, James Shelby, and Evan Shelby be my executors, to whom I give full power and authority to sell and dispose of my estate in the best manner that each one may receive his or her own part of my estate as before mentioned...21st day of February, Will names the children of Evan Shelby as of 1778 as John Shelby, Isaac Shelby, James Shelby, Evan Shelby, Moses Shelby, & Catherine Shelby, & Grandchildren Evan & Sarah Shelby. Testator describes lands included in his estate: on the Wattago River in NC; land in Washington County, VA (purchased from William Preston); land in Maryland (to be sold). The receipt and letter both show that Evan's daughter Catherine married James Thompson, who lived in Washington County, VA at the time of his father-in-law's death. The land which Thompson states that Shelby "never had a title for the land he livd on but the sellers"

Receipt for estate payment to James and Catherine Shelby Thompson

'Capt James Thompson & Catherine his wife to the Exec of Evan Shelby dec'd-2 Dec 1799 For 2 ? on ?, of Beaver Creek $45.00 3 Sept 1802 for the ballance(sic) of principal interest on Capt Thompson's own Bond due I. SHELBY-$545.00 a few more items mentioned, then- 10 Oct 1812- I Catherine Thompson do hereby acknowledge that the above payments have been made to me and my husband James Thompson by Isaac Shelby, Exec of Evan Shelby dec'd, in full for my legacy due to me from the Estate of Evan Shelby dec'd.^[5]

Documents found in the Draper Manuscripts show that Catherine Shelby (wife to James Thompson) was the daughter of Evan Shelby.

Letter to Isaac Shelby from James Thompson Dear Sir, I expect before this time you have heard of your father's death which happened about the third of December. Would it not be well to fall upon some method to settle his affairs, it will prevent them from going to destruction, which will be the case if something is not shortly done. He left no will that I know of if you will devise some method I will cheerfully assist in the business He never had a title for the land he livd on but the sellers? will make it any time, when applied to There remains something unpaid on it, yet I believe the estate is not in debt any amt__I wish you could come into this country & see how his business lyes__pray write me the first opportunity...none of his connections here will undertake to do anything . I wish title for the land to be made to his son Jimmy... 'I am yours Jas Thompson 25 Jany 1795

Sources

1. ↑ Will of Evan Shelby, signed Feb. 21, 1778, probated Oct. 25, 1798 in Washington County, Virginia
2. ↑ Grose, S, Pulaski County Virginia Heritage 2003, Thompson-Patton, p. 83-84 Unsourced profile Available here on Google Books
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2Y-1CG : accessed 16 June 2020), James Thompson, Washington, Virginia, United States; citing p. 213, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 71; FHL microfilm 181,431.
4. ↑ https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/L2X8-SK3/catherine-shelby-1755-1833
5. ↑ 'Draper, Lyman C. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1903. Internet resource.

• Charles E Shelby, Descendants of Captain Moses Shelby, National Genealogical Society Quarterly, v. 58, no. 3, September 1970..
• Evidence of paternity of Catherine Shelby Thompson in the Draper Manuscript Collection Draper, Lyman C. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1903. Internet resource.Documents found in the Draper Manuscripts show that Catherine Shelby (wife to James Thompson) was the daughter of Evan Shelby.
• Family Search Profile L2X8-SK3

Acknowledgements

This person was created through the import of Beaman Family Tree.ged on 31 March 2011.