Frederick "Fed" Shields

THE GENEALOGICAL HISTORY OF THE SHIELDS FAMILY

FREDERICK SHIELDS WILL

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In the name of God Amen. I Frederick Shields of Cades Cove, County of Blount and State of Tennessee, being of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainity of this frail and transitory life, do therefore make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, that is to say first, after all my lawful debts are paid and discharged, the residue of my estate, real and personal, I bequest and distribute of as follows, to wit:

To my beloved wife, Mary Shields the land and appurtenances situated thereon, known and described as the Emmet farm, lying in Cades Cove, in the County of Blount and State of Tennessee, during her natural life, then to three of my sons, to wit:

Zachariah Shields, William H. Shields, and A.J. Shields, the said three sons above named is to have possession of the above named land from the date of my death, by taking charge of my beloved wife during her natural life, comfortable as the nature of the case will admit of.

I give bequeath and devise to my son L.G.S. Shields the farm situated and lying in Cades Cove, Blount County, Tennessee known as the Lyons field farm by him the said L.G.S. Shields, paying my beloved daughters, to wit: Martha Lurena, Matilda, Elizabeth, Mary Susabbah, Ruth, and Margaret, the following sums set opposite each name and the date when payment is to be made:

Martha Lurena (single)-- $5.00 Jan 1st '85 -- $5.00 Jan 1st '86 Matilda Gregory-- $5.00 Jan 1st '85 -- $5.00 Jan 1st '86 Elizabeth Matthews -- $5.00 Jan 1st '85 -- $5.00 Jan 1st '86 Mary Susannah (single)-- $5.00 Jan 1st '85 -- $5.00 Jan 1st '86 Ruth Gregory-- $5.00 Jan 1st '85 -- $5.00 Jan 1st '86 Margaret Myers-- $5.00 Jan 1st '85 -- $5.00 Jan 1st '86

I give and bequeath to my son F.D.D. Shields the farm situated and lying in Cades Cove, Blount County, Tennessee, known as the Zachariah Clark farm by him the said F.D.D. Shields paying to my two sons Jonathan and E.R. Shields the amount set opposite each name and date payment is to be made.

Jonathan Shields -- $12.50 Jan 1st '85 -- $12.50 Jan 1st '86 E.R. Shields -- $12.50 Jan 1st '85 -- $12.50 Jan 1st '86

I give bequeath and devise all my personal property except one cow each for my daughters Mary Susabbah and Margaret Myers to my beloved wife Mary Shields for her own use and benefit.

Likewise I make constitue and appoint my sons Zachariah Shields and F.D.D. Shields to be executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.

In witness thereof I have hereunto subscribed name and affixed seal this 14th day of November 1884.

His Frederick X Shields Mark

Witnesse by:

D.B. Lawson J.P. Cable

Frederick built Cades Cove first grist mill.

Frederick married Mary "Polly" Oliver in 1838, and built a home near that of his father. He was the family miller. By 1850 there were ten children born. The first born died in infancy, and one of a set of triplets died at age 3. The remaineder lived to maturity, including a set of twins.

John Arthur Shields, in his "Shields Family History--1917," and Edwards and Frizzell in "The Connection in East Tennessee" (1969) mention an additional son, named John, for Frederick. Dr. A. Randolph Shields said he was unable to find this John in any census record, and members of the family were not able to recall such a son. Dr. Randolph said he thought both books were in error and that Edwards and Frizzell probably picked up the rum or from John Arthur Shields. (perhaps the infant son?)

Frederick and Mary "Polly" Oliver settled on the homeplace in the western end of Cade's Cove, and Frederick operated the mill and store. When Mr. D.D. Foute foreclosed on the mortgage, Frederick moved his family to the smaller "sugar cove," where his father Robert had first settled. There the family stayed during the Civil War, well out of the way of conscription agents and raiders.

Mr. Foute died intestate in January 1865, and Blount County Chancery Court ordered all of his property, including more than 15,000 acres, sold at auction. For the most part, the property was bought by Cade's Cove residents, many of whom had been foreclosed on by Foute. Frederick entered the high bid on the Shields homeplace, including the mill and about 600 acres, and built a two-story house said to be the largest log structure in the area, the size being necessitated by the fact that he had 13 children at the time.

The following is Frederick Shields' will: In the name of God Amen. I Frederick Shields of Cades Cove, County of Blount and State of Tennessee, being of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainity of this frail and transitory life, do therefore make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, that is to say first, after all my lawful debts are paid and discharged, the residue of my estate, real and personal, I bequest and distribute of as follows, to wit: To my beloved wife, Mary Shields the land and appurtenances situated thereon, known and described as the Emmet farm, lying in Cades Cove, in the County of Blount and State of Tennessee, during her natural life, then to three of my sons, to wit: Zachariah Shields, William H. Shields, and A.J. Shields, the said three sons above named is to have possession of the above named land from the date of my death, by taking charge of my beloved wife during her natural life, comfortable as the nature of the case will admit of. I give bequeath and devise to my son L.G.S. Shields the farm situated and lying in Cades Cove, Blount County, Tennessee known as the Lyons field farm by him the said L.G.S. Shields, paying my beloved daughters, to wit: Martha Lurena, Matilda, Elizabeth, Mary Susabbah, Ruth, and Margaret, the following sums set opposite each name and the date when payment is to be made: Martha Lurena (single)-- $5.00 Jan 1st '85 -- $5.00 Jan 1st '86 Matilda Gregory-- $5.00 Jan 1st '85 -- $5.00 Jan 1st '86 Elizabeth Matthews -- $5.00 Jan 1st '85 -- $5.00 Jan 1st '86 Mary Susannah (single)-- $5.00 Jan 1st '85 -- $5.00 Jan 1st '86 Ruth Gregory-- $5.00 Jan 1st '85 -- $5.00 Jan 1st '86 Margaret Myers-- $5.00 Jan 1st '85 -- $5.00 Jan 1st '86 I give and bequeath to my son F.D.D. Shields the farm situated and lying in Cades Cove, Blount County, Tennessee, known as the Zachariah Clark farm by him the said F.D.D. Shields paying to my two sons Jonathan and E.R. Shields the amount set opposite each name and date payment is to be made. Jonathan Shields -- $12.50 Jan 1st '85 -- $12.50 Jan 1st '86 E.R. Shields -- $12.50 Jan 1st '85 -- $12.50 Jan 1st '86 I give bequeath and devise all my personal property except one cow each for my daughters Mary Susabbah and Margaret Myers to my beloved wife Mary Shields for her own use and benefit. Likewise I make constitue and appoint my sons Zachariah Shields and F.D.D. Shields to be executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness thereof I have hereunto subscribed name and affixed seal this 14th day of November 1884. His Frederick X Shields Mark Witnesse by: D.B. Lawson J.P. Cable