"Events in the Life of Rev. John Shackelford"

Compiled by Phyllis Shackelford Hedges

February, 2001

This information was collected from the writings of the following:

The Southern Baptist Convention and it's People. by Robert A. Baker
A History of Ten Baptist Churches, by John Taylor
The Struggle for Religious Freedom in Virginia, by William T. Thom
Virginia Baptist Ministers, by John Taylor
Imprisoned Preachers and Religious Liberty in Virginia, by Lewis P. Little
The Baptist of Virginia, by Robert B. Sample
Forks of Elkhorn Church, by Ermina Jett Darnell
Colonial Caroline, A History of Caroline County, Virginia, by T. E. Campbell
Wingfield's History of Caroline County, Virginia, by Wingfield

In 1995 I was searching for my gg-grandfather, John Shackelford b. abt 1800-1804 in Caroline Co., Va. When I typed his name into the computer at the Church of Latter Day Saints Family History Ctr. in Louisville, Ky, a Rev. John Shackelford b. 1750 in Caroline Co., Va and died in Fayette Co, Ky in 1829 was displayed on the screen.  It also said he had a son, James Shackelford, born abt, 1774 in Caroline Co., Va., who married a Margaret Simpson.  I didn't think much of it at the time, but kept my notes in case someday I might find that he was somehow a link to my John Shackelford.
The next time I came across Rev. John's name, I believe was at the Filson Club.  Each time I found a book on Caroline Co., the only John Shackelford listed was the Rev. John Shackelford, not my John Shackelford.  So the story goes time and time again. I began copying pages from the books and kept them separate from my genealogy. I was impressed with the information I had collected about him, but after all, he was  not my relative.
Years went by and his name came up on the internet.  Another Shackelford researcher, had seen some of my messages using my surname. During the course of our e-mails we both agreed that we had gotten nowhere in finding anything out about the family of Rev. John.  Later, I typed Rev. John Shackelford's name again this time at the LDS site on the web and came up with the same names I had gotten back in 1995.  This time it listed James as being born abt. 1771 in Madison Co., Ky and also his marriage to Margaret Simpson as March 1796, in Madison Co., Ky.  This IGI Record was Batch # A455845 (marriage) and Film # 451128 - Page # 0335 - Reference :3957 for his birth.  When I tried to download the information it said that the records were sealed.
I kept on searching for the missing links in my family as well as my husband's, but somehow ending up going back to Rev. John.  I began looking all over the net for him.  I found many sites in Virginia to surf and came up with The Traveling Church - To Ky, From Va., published by George W. Ranch in 1891.  In a total of 5 pages, such as this, it mentions 62 names - some first and last names and some just the last names.  Such was the case of Shackelford, and just that.  Another 16 names were given mentioned as ever valuable ministers and preachers traveling with Lewis Craig.
On the Ky Biographies Site, History of Ky., I find a page on each of the following men: Lewis Craig, William Hickman, William G. Craig, Jacob Creath, Jr., & Sr. (with mention to Mr. Campbell), James P. Rucker & John Taylor (not the historian).  All of the men were reported as ministers of the Baptist faith or important figures in the Church.
My next surprise came when I came across the submit of Sandi Gorin's website of the Woodford and Fayette Co.'s Archives under "Early Baptist Churches", dated 3/18/1999.  There were no mention of Rev. John Shackelford, but much to do about many other ministers, who were supposed to have taken over for Lewis Craig at the Forks of Elkhorn Church in Woodford Co., Ky.  I wrote her an e-mail and explained and she wrote back saying that she had been so busy and had not gotten the second Vol. and would try to get back to me after she looked into this.
The following is not my story, but rather the content of the books I came across years ago when I first started my search for my gg-grandfather. They are being quoted by me as a guide to reference as I search the Rev. John Shackelford in coming days.  I do not intend to publish or make money as a result of this report.  NOTE: SO far,  there is nothing to establish that the Rev. is an ancestor of mine.

Wingfield's History of Caroline Co., Virginia, by Marshall Wingfield - Chapter: "John Shackelford"

Quote:
John Shackelford was born in Caroline Co., in 1750.  When 22 years old he became a minister of the Gospel.  He was ordained in 1774 and immediately became a pastor of Tuckahoe Church in Caroline.  Here a great revival was experienced in 1788 and that year he baptized over 300 persons.  The Rev. Andrew Broaddus, I paid a splendid tribute to his work, which tribute may be found in the First Series of Taylor's "Virginia Baptist Ministers".  He died in Ky. in 1829.
Unquote

"The Southern Baptist Convention and it's People" 1607-1972 by Robert A. Baker Page # 67 Chapter - Liberty: Political & Religious

Quote:
"The year 1774 marked almost the end of this kind of legal harassment. In Chesterfield County David Tinsley was imprisoned for over four months and suffered many indignities.  In Essex, John Waller, John Shackelford, Robert Ware, and Ivison Lewis were arrested for preaching the gospel. They were released on bond after a few weeks.
These imprisonments of more than thirty individuals in the jails of nine counties so far from arresting the Baptist movement had accelerated it by arousing sympathy for the prisoners by kindling interest in their message and be awakening understanding and appreciation of their insistence on unrestrained exercise of freedom of belief in religion and liberty to preach the Gospel to every creature."
Unquote

"History of Kentucky Baptist" by J. H. Spencer Vol. 1 - Pages # 42, 43, & 44

Quote:
"Lewis Craig was chosen pastor of South Elkhorn Church, a the time of its consituation, and under his ministry, it continued to prosper, till about 1792, when he resigned and move to Bracken County, recommending John Shackelford as his successor.  Mr. Shackelford was immediately called to fill the position.  Under his  ministry the church continued to enjoy great prosperity, about thirty years.  During tis period many extensive revivals occurred in the church, in one of which 309 were baptized for its fellowship, during the year 1801.  Again about the year 1817, near 200 were added to it during one winter.
John Shackelford was born in Caroline County, Va. in 1750.  He commenced his ministry at about the age of 22 years, and was a zealous laborer in the Vineyard of the Lord, about six years, before he was ordained.  During this period he was honored with a term in Essex county jail.  Of this affair, Mr. Sample gives the following account:
"On March 13, 1774, the day on which Picataway church was constituted, a warrant was issued to apprehend all the Baptist preachers that were at meeting.  Accordingly, John Waller, John Shackelford, Robert Ware and Ivison Lewis were taken and carried before a magistrate.  Ivison Lewis was dismissed, not having preached in the county; the other three were sent to prison.  It appears from Mr. Waller's journal, which we have before us, that while in prison, God permitted them to pass through divers fiery trials; their minds, for a season, being greatly harassed by the enemy of soul.  They however, from first to last of their imprisonment, preached twice a week, gave much godly advice to such as came to visit them, read a great deal, and prayed without ceasing.  In their stated devotion, morning, noon and night, they were often joined by others.  They continued in close  confinement from the 13th to the 21th of March, which was court day; being brought to trial, they were required to give bond and security for their good behavior for twelve months, or go back to prison.  Ware and Shackelford gave bond and went home.  Waller being always doubtful of the prosperity of giving any bond whatever, determined to go back to jail.  Mr. Waller remained in jail fourteen days longer and was then released.
Soon after this imprisonment, Mr. Shackelford was ordained to the care of a small church which had been gathered by Lewis Craig, under the name of Tuckahoe, in Caroline County.  In 1788, this church had a revival. ' It was a memorable time indeed," says, Mr. Sample, "not only in this church, but almost throughout the state of Virginia."  In the course of this devine season, Mr. Shackleford baptized about three hundred.  In addition to his pastoral work, he labored much, according to the custom of the time, among the destitute, and like other Baptist preachers at that time period, endured much persecution.
In 1792, Mr. Shackelford moved to Kentucky, just at the time Mr. Craig resigned the charge of South Elkhorn Church, and was immediately called to succeed his early colaborer and fellow sufferer.  To South Elkhorn Church he ministered about 37 years, including the most stormy period of history of Kentucky Baptist.  The first trouble he experience in his pastoral relation at South Elkhorn grew out of a personal difficulty between Elijah Craig and Jacob Creath, Sr.  This contention was long continued, and finally involved the whole of Elkhorn Association and produced a division n the fraternity.  A result of this unfortunate quarrel was the formation of Licking Association of Particular Baptist.  Mr. Shackelford identified himself with the Craig party, and about one-fourth of his church adhered to him, and entered with him into Licking Association.  The majority, under the ministry of the Creaths, ultimately went off with the Campbellites.  The minority withered and was finally dissolved.  The evening of Mr. Shackelford's life was rendered uncomfortable by these painful divisions.  But the grace of God, that in his youth, supported him in fiery persecutions, also upheld in his old age:  he died in the triumph of the christian's hope in 1829, in his 79th year.  He was probably the last of that noble band of preachers who were confined in Virginia jails for preaching the gospel." Unquote

"Imprisoned Preachers and Religious Liberty in Virginia"  by Lewis P. Little, Lynchburg Press: J. P. Bell Co. 1938 - Page # 's 399, 400, 401, 402 & 403
CHAPTER 14 - 1774 Essex County - County Seat - Tappahannock

Quote:
"The Piscataway Church located in Essex County, seven or eight miles southwest of Tappahannock, organized in 1774, and known as Mr. Zion since 1856, under this name still maintains a vigorous connection with the Tappahannock Association.  This church was constituted on March 13, 1774, and on the memorable day, a "warrant was issued to apprehend all the Baptist preachers that were at meeting.  Accordingly John Waller, John Shackelford, Robert Ware, and Ivison Lewis were taken and carried before a magistrate.  Ivison Lewis was dismissed, not having preached in the county:  the other were sent to prison."
John Waller, John Shackelford, Robert Ware, - Imprisoned in Essex County Jail:  John Waller Was Imprisoned for Fourteen Days.
While in prison they employed their time in much the same manner as so many of their brethren had employed theirs under similar circumstances, yet they seemed to have lacked the sweet comfort and consolation which usually attended such as experience.  At least John Waller did not have a very pleasant season, or enjoy a sense of the divine presence:
"It appears from Mr. Waller's journals, which we have before us, that while in prison God permitted them to pass through divers and fiery trials; their minds, for a season, being greatly harassed by the enemy of souls.  They, however, from first to last of their imprisonment, preached twice a week, gave much godly advice to such as came to visit them, read a great deal, and prayed almost without ceasing." (Sample's History (1810), p. 23.
The Court's record of this case of imprisonment is found in Order Book Number 29, 1773-1783, pages 195 and 196:  "At a Court held for Essex County at Tappahannock on Monday the 21st day of March in the year of our Lord 1774. "Present his Majesty's Justices: Thomas Roane, John Upshaw, Robert Beverly and John Corrie.
(My words) - "Next, followed two paragraphs I left out that explained the offenses which were already stated."
As the reference to Shackelford appears in a separate entry and on different pages on the same date and with the same Gentlemen Justices presiding, it is probable that he arranged for his bondsman at a  later hour in the day thereby necessitating a separate entry, which is as follows:
"John Shackelford acknowledged himself indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King his heirs and successors in the sum of Twenty Pounds current money, and John Goode and Thoms. Upshaw acknowledged themselves indebted in like manner in the sum of Ten Pounds each to be levied on their respective goods and chattels, lands and tenements: on condition that if the said John Shackelford shall be of good behavior twelve months from this date then this recognizance to be void, otherwise to be and remain in full force."
Having finished the account of what took place on Court Day, let us take the case of these preachers individually, and in the order of their releasement.

JOHN SHACKELFORD
Imprisoned in Essex County Jail for Eight Days

This is the first, and it seems the only imprisonment of John Shackelford.  He was born in Caroline County in 1750, began preaching in 1772, when twenty-two years of age, but not ordained until 1774, when he took charge of the Tuckahoe Church.  Prior to his pastorate of the Tuckahoe Church, there had been violent opposition  to the Baptist in that neighborhood, the parson of the parish preaching against them, and warrants being issue for the apprehension of Lewis Craig, Edward  Herndon, Bartholomew Choning, James Goolrick, James Ware and James Pitman, all of whom were thrown in prison, as we have seen in a previous chapter.  Just how John Shackelford managed to escape the clutches of the law, until the year that he was ordained and became pastor of Tuckahoe, the record does not shoe.  However, after being released from the Essex County jail he continued to serve this church (which had been in one of the storm centers of opposition), for eighteen years, or until he left the State.  In 1788 the Tuckahoe Church experienced a gracious revival and Mr. Shackelford baptized about three hundred.  His reduced circumstances, with some other causes, led him to moved to Kentucky in the year 1792, and John Taylor's, A History of the Ten Baptist Churches, Second Edition (1827), page 49, contains the following information relative to Shackelford in his new home:
"But to return to South Elkhorn, Lewis Craig continued their pastor, for perhaps nine years, and then moved to Bracken County, near the Ohio River. Having been well acquainted with John Shackelford, in Virginia, who had lately moved to Kentucky.  Craig advised the Church, at South Elkhorn, to call him to take the watch care of the Church, which was  done on Craig's moving away.  I suppose Shackelford has been in the ministry at least 50 years, and was  a prisoner of the Lord, in early times, in Virginia.  He was a preacher of much respectability from his youth; and his labours commenced with great success before he came to Kentucky.  He has been the laborious Pastor of South Elkhorn for more than thirty years.  Under his ministries, revivals have been great additions to the Church; several great revivals have  been there.  About the beginning of the present century, several hundred were added in on year.  A few years past, near two hundred were added in one winter.  So that South Elkhorn has always been among the most numerous and respectable Churches in Elkhorn Association."
Then on page 50 on the same book John Taylor says:
"The Church at South Elkhorn has existed as such for near forty years:  They have only had two pastors, Craig and Shackelford.  Both these men have often preached through iron grates in Virginia, and with great success in Kentucky: and now both waiting to hear the applaudit of "well done thou good and faithful servants."
A footnote in Beal's Sample, page 156, tells the rest of his story that seems pertinent to this volume:
"Mr. Shackelford reached Kentucky about the time that Lewis Craig, his former associate in toils and suffering, retired from the care of South Elkhorn Church, and he was chosen as his successor, and he continued to serve in this relation for nearly forty years.  His church, distracted by the Craig vs Creath feud, and rent in twain by the Campbellite controversy, saddened his declining years.  He died in 1828, when 79 years of age, probably the last (says the historian of the Kentucky Baptist) of that noble band of preachers who were confined in Virginia jails for preaching the Gospel." Unquote

"Forks of Elkhorn Church", by Darnell

Quote:
JOHN SHACKELFORD 1808

Some of the Shackelford family came in with the "Traveling Church."  The Rev. John Shackelford (1750-1829) of Caroline County, Virginia was one of the ministers imprisoned in the Essex jail for preaching the Baptist doctrines.  He came to Ky. and preached at South Elkhorn Church for many years.
Samuel, Thomas, John and Zachariah Shackelford were in Lincoln about 1791 and John was in Jessamine after 1799.  In Franklin, Ryland and Carter were living north of the river in 1801.  Green Shackelford married Nancy James,  1818:  James Shackelford married Harriet Martin 1826.
Unquote

Other books with entries not quoted here on Rev. John Shackelford are:

"Colonial Caroline", A History of Caroline Co., Va, by T. E. Campbell, pg 373, Chapter on Caroline Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolution
(from the Archives of the Va. State Library), "John Shackelford"
"A History of Ten Baptist Churches," by John Taylor, Frankfort, Ky.  J. H. Holeman, 1823
"The Struggle for Religious Freedom in Virginia" by Wm. T. Thom, John Hopkins Univ. Press, 1900
"A History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptist in Virginia"  American Baptist Publishers Society, 1894
"The Baptist of Virginia". 1699-1926  by Garnet Ryland & Robert B. Sample

NOTES:  

1. The spelling of the name Shackelford changes from author to author as el or le.

2. From the files on Franklin Churches at the History Center:  Forks of Elkhorn Baptist Church was organized:  June 07, 1788.  It is located at 495 Duckers Road, Midway, Ky.  In 1995 they had 175 members:  The Church is located just across from the Woodford Co. line on Duckers Rd. between Highway 421 and Old Frankfort, at Lexington Pike.

3. South Benson Baptist Church was est.  in 1801 by Tom Hickman, Sr., Warren Ash and John Penny and members dismissed from Forks of Elkhorn to join this congregation.

I do not take credit for the information presented in this report.

Phyllis Shackelford Hedges

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