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Shields Family
The Shields family remains somewhat elusive. The first mention of Shields in Kentucky is William Shields who was a member of a group of 15 settlers from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas organized by John Hickston. Hickston’s station was built on the South Licking River in what is present day Harrison County. The station was built in 1776 and abandoned in July 1776 as a result of an Indian/British attack. It appears that the settlers may have returned to Pennsylvania.
The next time a Shields appears is in Bourbon County is in the 1790 to 1799 tax list. William along with Tobias, David and Samuel are identified for various years on the tax list. It is unclear if the William Shields at Hickston’s station is the same as the one recorded in the tax list or even if the four Shields mentioned in the tax list are related.
The Census records for Bourbon County for the years 1810 through 1840 do have a listing for William Shields. These appear to be father and son. The Census for 1810 has William and his wife(?) born before 1765. The Census for 1820 and 1830 has William and his wife (?) born before 1775. The Census for 1820 also has William Shields and wife (?) born between 1800 and 1810. The conclusion is that there are 2 William Shields and possibly 3.
In the 1850 William Shields is recorded as 45 years old which indicates he was born in 1805. William married Jane (unknown) about 1827 in Bourbon county. William was recorded as a carpenter by occupation. They had eight children. As with all records there seems to be some differences between name and ages. John T. born in 1828, Polly A. born in 1832, twins Patsy E. and Thomas R. born in 1834, Melissa L. born in 1839, William H. born in 1841, Rachel born in 1843, and Susan born in 1846. Susan appears in the 1860 as Sarah and born in 1852.
John T. Shields married Francis Ayn Hedges September 12, 1851 in Paris, Kentucky and the marriage bond are recorded in Marriage Bonds Paris Court House book 3 page 2. Francis Ayn Hedges was the daughter of William Goulden Hedges and Lucinda Cox. William H. married Margaret Jane Wolf February13, 1862 and Rachel married Warren Shular (Shulas?) January 25, 1866.
John T. moved into Grant County between 1851 and 1856. He applied for and was granted a tavern license in 1856 in 1857 on the Cynthiana Rd.
John T. and Francis had 3 children John William born 1858, George M. born 1863 and Albert born 1865. John T. died in Williamstown March 17, 1874. John T. died early and left Francis a widow at the age of 47. She married two more time to an unknown Walker and lastly to Barney Bonar.
John William Shields married Lucy Ayn Burroughs June 30, 1881 by Rev. Henry Franks pastor of the Oak Ridge Baptist Church. She was the daughter of Lewis E. Burroughs and Uranah O’Neal. John W. and Lucy A. had four children: Grace Shields born September 7, 1882, Cecil C. born January 5, 1886, Stella born October 26, 1887 and Mable T. born December 28, 1891, all born in Williamstown. John William ran as a Republican Candidate for County Clerk as well as County judge to which he was elected he also served as Postmaster in Williamstown.
Grace Shields married James John Daugherty September 11, 1902 in Oak Ridge Church. He was born March 22, 1878 in Williamstown and died June 29, 1951 in Erlanger, Ky. They had two children Eva Lorie, born May 6, 1904 in Springfield Missouri and Cecil Clifton born December 30, 1906 in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Submitted by Tom - thanks!
August 27, 2009
Beulah Wiley Franks
Grant County Coordinator, KY/ALHN