On June 18, 1781, John Shackford, yeoman, of Coxhall, purchased 100 acres of land in Coxhall, known by the name of Wakefields, from John White and his wife Dorkes of Sanford for five pounds. At this time we are unsure where the land (the Wakefields) was located within Coxhall, (now known as Lyman, Maine), but will update this blog if we learn more. While John purchased the land in 1781, he did not get a copy of the deed certified until 1790 and did not record the deed until 1796. We have not yet researched what John did with this land. A copy of the Deed is shown below:
John White to John Shackford Know all men by these Presents that I John White of Sanford in the County of York and State of the Massachusetts Commonwealth Yeoman & Dorkes his wife for and in consideration of the sum of five pounds Lawful money of said State to us in hand paid before the delivery hereof by John Shackford of Coxhall in the County & State aforesaid yeoman the Receipt whereof we do herby acknowledge have given granted, bargained sold and released and by these Presents to give grant bargain sell aline, release Convey and confirm to him the said John Shackford his heirs and assigns all our right & Interest to a Certain Tract of Land lying in Coxhall known by the Name of Wakefields right which right is Called one hundred acres be it more or less. To have and to hold , the said Granted premises with the appurtenances thereof , to him the said John Shackford his heirs and assigns to there proper use , benefit and behoof forever we hereby engaging to Warrant and Defend the said granted premises against all Claims or Demands of any Person or persons Claiming by, from or under us , In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hand and seals this Eighteenth Day of June in the year of his Majestys Reignannoque Domini 1781 . John White (seal) Dorkes White (seal) signed. Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of us Nathanl Conant and Tom Parsons of York ss Waterboro the 30th day of September 1790 Then the above named John while personally appearing acknowledged the above written instrument to be his voluntary act and deed Recorded according to the original Before me Andrew Burley Justice Peace
Received April 23rd 1796 Att: W???? Regr
All posts on this website are a work in progress. We’d love to learn of any corrections or additions to the information shared. Also we’d love it if you’d like the post here or at http://www.facebook.com/shackfordgenealogy) as that helps share the post with others. Thanks!
SOURCES:
“York. Deeds 1795-1796,” digital images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org : accessed 5 April 2024), John Shackford purchased land from John White in Coxhall 18 June 1781; Page 176, Image 454 of 555.
Copyright 2024 Joanne Shackford Parkes (sharing a link to this post is appreciated but please do not copy this material and paste it elsewhere).
On August 18, 1777, Paul Shackford who was living in Wells at the time, sold land in Coxhall, Massachusetts (now Lyman, Maine) to his son John Shackford in consideration of Love, Good Will, and Seven Pounds, Ten Shillings. The land Paul sold to his son included fifty acres on the southwesterly side of the one hundred and sixty acres of land he had purchased from Nathaniel Clark on March 23, 1758. The deed transferring the land to John was registered on April 23, 1796. Paul would have been about 57 years old and John 32.
We believe these deeds are referring to the Paul Shackford b abt 1720-1728, son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Barnes) Shackford who married Sarah Day, son of Joseph and Patience (Hilton) Day and John Shackford abt 1743-1745 – perhaps 1827 who married a Day, Hannah Hatch, and Abigail Littlefield. We are currently working to learn as much as we can about this John Shacford who we believe was the father of Samuel Shackford of Duxbury, Vermont.
The deeds involved are shown below: First the deed showing Paul purchasing 160 acres of land from Nathaniel Clark of Wells.
Know all men by these presents that I Nathaniel Clark of Wells in the County of York and Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Blacksmith for and in consideration of twenty four pounds lawful money paid me by Paul Shackford of Wells aforesaid Husbandman the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge do freely & absolutely grant bargain sell convey and confirm unto the said Paul his Heirs and assigns forever One Hundred and Sixty acres of land being Part of a Tract of Land containing Eight Hundred acres purchased by Benjamin Bronsdon which lies and is within the bounds of as large Tract of Land at the head of the Townships of Wells aforesaid and Arundell called Coxhall that is today One Hundred & sixty acres of land being part of my part of one Moiety or half part of the said Tract of land containing eight hundred acres which Moiety or half part was conveyed by Benjamin Wormwood aforesaid to me to me the said Nathan & Adam Clark in equal halves to be Divided by Deed of Sale Dated the twenty third Day of March 1758. To have and to hold the said One Hundred & Sixty Acres with the Privileges of Appurtenances to the same belonging to the said Paul his Heirs & Assigns forever And I do convenant with the said Paul that I am the Sole owner of the said one hundred & sixty acres that I am lawfully seized in fee of the same, that the same is free from all encumbrances and that I will Warrant and Defend the same to the said Paul his Heirs & Assigns forever against the lawful Claim & Demands of all Persons. In Testimony where of I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal this thirtieth Day of Decem in the seventh year of his Majesties Reign Annoque Domini 1766. Signed Sealed & Delivered in Presence of Joseph Wells Nathl Wells Nathaniel Clark (seal) York/Oct 10th 1767 Nathaniel Clark personally appearing acknow this instrument as his free act & Deed before Nathl Wells Just Peace Recorded according to the Orignl recd June 27 1789 Att Dan Moulton Regr
Followed by the Deed showing Paul selling 50 of these acres to his son John.
Know all men by these presents that Paul Shackford of Wells in the County of York and Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Yeoman in consideration of ye Love & good Will I bear to my son John Shackford yeoman & in consideration of Seven pounds ten Shillings Lawful money paid me by my son do hereby give grant sell and convey unto him my said son Shackford his heirs & assigns forever fifty acres of Land lying & being in ye Township of Coxhall it being the South Westerly part of one hundred & Sixty Acres of Land which I ye sd Paul Shackford purchased of Mr Nathaniel Clark as may appear by Deed Dated March ye 23th 1758 and also by my Deed dated December ye 30th 1766. To have and to hold the said granted bargained premises together with all there appurtenances free of all incumbrances whatsoever to him the said John Shackford his heirs and assigns forever as an absolute Estate of inheritance in fee Simple and I the said Paul Shackford for my self my heirs Exers and adminrs do Covenant and Engage the above demised premises to him the sd John Shackford his heirs and assigns against the Lawful Claims of any person or persons Whatsoever forever to Warrant Secure and Defend by these presents In Witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and Seal this Eighteenth Day of August Anno Domini One Thousand seven hundred and seventy seven . Signed Sealed & Delivered in presence of Joseph Storer Jr Reuben Hatch of York ss August 18th 1777 Then Paul Shackford above Named acknowledged the above written Instrument to be his free act & Deed , Before Joseph Storer Just Peace Received April 23rd 1796 Wm Frost Regr
1795 map of Coxhall (now Lyman) drawn by Robert Swainson, surveyor
We’re still trying to understand where this property was located — it’s a bit complicated as the boundaries between townships in York County, Maine have changed as well as the names of these areas. Also the deeds do not clarify how the land was subdivided. This 1795 map of Coxhall (now Lyman) may give an approximate clue as it shows the older boundaries. We believe we’ve approximated the location of the land (see blue arrow) however still need to research more deeds to determine what John did with the property and determine if that property owner is shown in the York County 1856 map. We’ll probably update this blog as we learn more about this property.
All posts on this website are a work in progress. We’d love to learn of any corrections or additions to the information shared. Also we’d love it if you’d like the post here or at http://www.facebook.com/shackfordgenealogy) as that helps share the post with others. Thanks!
SOURCES:
Survey of the Town of Coxhall, 1795, Robert Swanson, at DigitalMaine Repository, contributed by Maine State Archives. Land was surveyed at 200 rods to an inch https://digitalmaine.com/planbook_20/8/
“York. Deeds 1799-1789,” digital images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org : accessed 13 April 2024), Paul Shackford purchased land from Nathaniel Clark; V46 p 101 [Image 108 of 588].
“York. Deeds 1761-1767,” digital images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org : accessed 9 April 2024), Joseph Day sold land to Paul Shackford, son-in-law; Vol 38, p 211 [Image 491 of 562].
“York. Deeds 1795-1796,” digital images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org : accessed 12 April 2024), Paul Shackford grants land to son John Shackford.
Copyright 2024 Joanne Shackford Parkes (sharing a link to this post is appreciated but please do not copy this material and paste it elsewhere).
We aren’t sure where Samuel Shackford of Duxbury, Vermont was born but according to Samuel Burnham Shackford’s Shackford Genealogy Manuscript, he was the son of John Shackford and most likely John’s second wife, Anna Hatch. The manuscript states he was born on May 25, 1789 and since John Shackford (1743-1827) was living in York County at this time, he was most likely born there. Samuel was living in Duxbury, Vermont at the age of 21 – we’d love to know what brought him to Duxbury.
We do know that Samuel married Susannah Hobbs, the daughter of Caleb and Sarah (Lucas) Hobbs on December. 2, 1810. She was born on December 18, 1792 in Bradford, Vermont so he was 21 and she was 17.
Duxbury Deed, Caleb Hobs to Samuel Shackford, Jan 10, 1811
On January 10, 1811, Samuel purchased land from Caleb Hobs [sic], his father-in-law for $175. The property is described as “fifty acres off the westerly end of Lot Number Twelve in the second division of Duxbury – land drawn to the right of Cora King.”
Three months later, on March 7, 1811, Samuel then sold property with the exact same description to James Hobs [sic], his brother-in-law for $1. We are unsure why someone would sell property they had just purchased for such a loss — perhaps Samuel owed money to his brother-in-law?
Samuel remained in Duxbury – he is listed in the 1820 census on the same page as his brother-in-law working in the field of agriculture. The census record shows that he had one adult and four children under the age of 10 living at the home. Samuel is also listed in the 1830 Duxbury census records. Although the family had six daughters under the age of 14 in 1830, only two are showing in this census, one age 10-14 and 1 under 5 although the family had eight girls at the time. We know from the Shackford Genealogy Manuscript that one daughter – Adaline, who would have been 9, was living with another family – perhaps many of the other Shackford children were also living with other families.
Samuel died at the age of 41 on February 6, 1831 and was buried in the Old Waterbury Center Cemetery in Waterbury, Vermont. A photograph of his gravestone can be seen at Find A Grave. He left a wife and eight daughters ages 19, 17, 16, 11, 11, 9, 6, and 5.
Samuel’s widow, Susannah married Rememberance Nash in Duxbury on July 28, 1833. We have not found much about this relationship other than an index card with the marriage information but believe it ended quickly as he moved alone to New York before 1840. Susannah moved to Waterbury, Vermont and married Ezra French in 1845, definitely before October 16, 1848 as a deed with this date reflecting land she purchased lists her with the last name of French — the land was adjacent to land that Nathaniel had already sold to Ezra. We find Ezra and Susanna living together in the 1850 Waterbury census which lists Ezra age 75 owning property valued at $300 living with Susanah, age 57. Ezra’s son Calvin from a previous marriage was also living in the home..
Ezra died on 18 Mar 1854 and was buried in the Waterbury Center Cemetery. Susanna then went to live with her eldest daughter Orilla who had married Samuel Woodard. She then sold the property that had been owned by Ezra and the property she had purchased for $150. It was described as “the place where myself and my late husband Ezra French formerly lived.”
She lived in Waterbury until her death at age 85 on February 21, 1878 and was buried in the Waterbury Cemetery next to Ezra. The gravestone can be seen at FindAGrave.
CHILDREN:
Orrilla Shackford (1811-1862) – married Ira Jewell, then Samuel Wells Woodward
Sarah D Shackford (1815-1903) – married David Hill, then Charles H Atkins
Note: The Shackford name ended in Duxbury, Vermont upon the marriage of Adaline in 1845. We never would have pieced this family together without Samuel Burnham Shackford’s Shackford Genealogy Manuscript or the staff at the NEHGS who pulled it from storage and allowed me to review it. Samuel and the other Samuel Shackford of Chicago who compiled Shackford research spent hours in libraries reviewing source material, writing letters to Shackford descendents, and incorporating the new information into their manuscripts. Today we are fortunate to have access to even more materials online and to be able to reach out quickly via phone and e-mail to others who are interested in this same genealogy research. But even then there is more research needed to verify past research.
Further Research needed regarding Samuel Shackford:
Review the notes that Samuel Burnham Shackford took from the family Bible mentioned by Sabrina Lanfair to see if there are any further sources to substantiate that this John Shackford listed is Samuel’s father. Hopefully there are some notes explaining why he moved to Duxbury Maine at the age of 21.
Look for probate records for Samuel’s father John who lived in Alfred, Maine and review any land records for John and John’s children for any indications as to Samuel’s parents.
Are there any records that show where Samuel and Susanah married? (probably not as records were not kept in 1810)
Are there any records showing where their younger children were in 1830?
Were there guardianship assignments of the children after Samuel’s death in 1831? We’ve reviewed the Washington, Vermont Probate Court Guardian records, 1821-1921 but have not found any records pertaining to this family.
All posts on this website are a work in progress. We’d love to learn of any corrections or additions to the information shared. Also we’d love it if you’d like the post here or at http://www.facebook.com/shackfordgenealogy) as that helps share the post with others. Thanks!
SOURCES:
1820 United States Federal Census, Washington County, Vermont, population schedule, Duxbury, Samuel Shackford; digital images, Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com : accessed 22 March 2024).
1830 United States Federal Census, Washington County, Vermont, population schedule, Duxbury, Samuel Shackford; digital images, Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com : accessed 22 March 2024).
1850 US Federal Census, Washington County, population schedule, Waterbury, page 649 (penned), dwelling 2008, family 2018, Ezra French; digital images, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : accessed 14 January 2015).
1860 US Federal Census, Washington County, population schedule, Waterbury, Page No 168, dwelling 1279, family 1353, Samuel W Woodard; digital images, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : accessed 10 June 2019).
“Duxbury Land Records, 1770-1876 Grantor and Grantee index to land records, v. 1-19,” digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/178010 : accessed 29 March 2024), Book 5, Samuel Shackford Caleb Hobbs; Image 161 of 927.
“Duxbury Land Records, 1770-1876 Grantor and Grantee index to land records, v. 1-19,” digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/178010 : accessed 29 March 2024), Book 4, Samuel Shackford James Hobbs; Image 161 of 927.
“Duxbury Vermont Land records, 1770-1876, Land records, v. 5-6 1800-1830,” digital images, FamilySearch (FamilySearch.org : accessed 2 April 2024), Property Sale Caleb Hobbs to Samuel Shackford; Film #008663953, Image 54 of 684.
“Duxbury Vermont Land records, 1770-1876, Land records, v. 5-6 1800-1830,” digital images, FamilySearch (FamilySearch.org : accessed 2 April 2024), Samuel Shackford to James Hobs; Film #008663953, Image 69 of 684.
“Duxbury Vermont Card index to births, T-Z, 1783-1997; bride index to marriages, A-Z, 1783-1997; groom index to marriages, A-Z, 1783-1997,” digital images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org : accessed accessed), Susanna Shackford; Film 007746234, Image 1028 of 2208.
Find a Grave, Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 1 August 2014), Samuel Shackford, Find A Grave Memorial# 53220057.
Find a Grave, Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 1 August 2014), Susanna Hobbs French, Find A Grave Memorial# 53220011.
“Shackford Genealogy Manuscript,” 13 October 1925; typed manuscript, SG SHA 5; Shackford collection by Samuel Burnham Shackford; New England Historical and Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. (56) Desc. of William Shackford, #116, Samuel Shackford b 1761; source Family Bible from his daughter Susannah (Shackford) Lanfair.
Vermont, Vermont Vital Records, 1760-2008, , Samuel Shackford, 6 February 1831; digital images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 5 June 2013).
“Waterbury. Deeds 1862–1872,” digital images, FamilySearch (FamilySearch.org : accessed 12 March 2024), Nathl Woodman’s Deed to Susannah French.
“Waterbury. Deeds 1862–1872,” digital images, FamilySearch (FamilySearch.org : accessed 10 March 2024), Susana Hobbs (Shackford) French sells property; Image 296 of 616.
Copyright 2024 Joanne Shackford Parkes – typo corrected in 2024 (sharing a link to this post is appreciated but please do not copy this material and paste it elsewhere).
SHACKFORD Family History 