Skelton Daniel Standifer

Skelton (according to Bible records) was born 1772. I believe he and his older brother Jesse, may have moved to Georgia along with some Heards (their mother's people). There they both served in the militia in Greene Co. 1793-94 with Stephen & William Heards, Thomas Woodcock, Brazor Anderson and Henry English. In 1798 Skelton showed in the Ga. Tax Digest in Oglethorpe Co. (Wagnon District) with Benjamin (Lee District). Also in 1798 (Greene Co.) Skelton appraised the estate of Brazor Cook Anderson with Henry English, Esq. and Joshua Martin. Another Greene Co. reference dated 1801 describes a slave sale from Skelton to a King. In 1802 Col. William Melton (who with Jesse Standifer had administered the estate of Peter Martin 1796 Greene Co.), recommended Skelton be given a passport through the Creek Nation. In 1803, again Greene Co., Skelton is mentioned in the will of Joshua Martin. In the same county, 1804 Skelton witness a sale from William Melton to John Roberts. An 1809 marriage recorded in Greene Co. shows Skelton marrying a Lydia Echols of Putnam Co. (note: A reference to this wedding in the Joseph Maddox listing indicates this was a second marriage and subsequent census listing would indicate Skelton had children before this time). A biographical reference to Jesse Marshall Standifer (who I believe to be a son of Skelton Standifer) indicates he was born 1814 in Edenton (probably Eatonton, Putnam Co.), which might mean Skelton continued to resided in Georgia till then.

An 1815, Bledsoe Co., Tenn. tax listing lists a Skelton. Either father or brother Isreal appeared there in an 1808 record with Stephen Heard, Thomas Menefee and Christian Rhodes. Previously, circa 1805 William (son of James, son of John) had migrated as one of the first white settlers into the Sequatchie Valley. This William did have a son Skelton, which could account for this tax listing.

Also in 1815, in Madison Co. Ala, Skelton was involved with the execution of the last will & testament of Jesse Hodges. Also mentioned in conjunction with the several related records is David and James Bailey, Ruth (wife of Jesse) and Fleming Hodges.

In 1818, the Skelton name was associated with land transactions in Alabama. It appears on a 1818 patent on Lawrence Co. land at S20-T2-R8W. He shows with Jesse in patents on land in Colbert (then Franklin Co.). In 1818 in Lawrence Co., he witnesses the will of Charles Breedlove with George M. Moore.

Another record in October 1818 was recorded in Madison Co. It stated that Skelton appraised the Lawrence Co. property (Milton's Bluff) of John Hutchings, deceased, with Humphrey Warren and Robert White.

The next Skelton reference is 1819 also in Madison Co. Ala, the home of his father. There he is listed as having a letter at the Huntsville post office. In 1820, the census caught Jesse in Maury Co. Tenn. and Skelton in Lawrence Co. Ala. (1 white male above 21, 3 w/m -21, 2 w/f +21, 5 w/f -21, 7 slaves). On August 3,1821, Skelton of Lawrence Co. Ala. deeded land to Jesse Standifer of Madison Co. Ala. (Deed Book A, page 160).

Then in 1823, in the court case, Skelton vs. Chisolm (Lawrence Co.), he is delivered to the sheriff of Lawrence Co. to pay punitive damages by a Hatley. That case went before the State Supreme Court and in it Skelton's son was named as Samuel W. Standifer. He testified that he carried slaves under the employ of his uncle Jesse from Alabama to Mississipi.

Frances Martin brought another suit against Skelton and one of the Isreal Standifers in 1824 (April term of Madison Co. Ala. Civil Court). The suit stated that the two lost an amount of cotton off of a flatboat they owned operating out of Decatur, Ala. and bound for New Orleans. The court found in favor of Martin and in 1826, after Skelton had moved to Monroe Co. Miss., the court seized eight slaves to repay the damages.

In June1824, Skelton, Susannah H. and Lucy A. Standifer give letters to the New Hope Church of Monroe Co. Mississippi. Skelton appears on a 1825 Tax List for the county and purchases land in March from Isreal of Bledsoe Co. Tenn. In June 1825, Skelton returns letter to New Hope and is to do the work of deacon. In a land transaction on Oct 13, 1825, he sells property to Richard Sr. and Temple Moons, with payment in seed cotton going to Susan H. Standifer. Elizabeth Standifer and John Brown are witnesses to this. In 1830 Skelton serves as a commissioner to select the new county seat of Monroe (Athens is chosen near his land) and he is appointed to superintend the erection of Public buildings in Athens. Census shows his family in Monroe consists of 3 males (10-20), 1 male (40-60), 1 female (10-20) and one female (20-40). He is also involved in a real estate transaction that year with Gabriel Ragsdale, Isreal Dycke and Stephen Harmon. He becomes (1830) a trustee for school lands with John Echols, William Taylor, Thomas Rea, Issac Anderson and Thomas Nichols. In 1833, he and John E. ( I belive to be another son ) sell slaves to Prewitt and Sims. He also serves on a church committee to look for a new location for the New Hope church.

As early as 1834, Skelton purchased Noxubee Co. lands. He had surveyed for the government according to a letter reprinted in "Dancing Rabbit , A History of Noxubee County.". John E. was selling lots in Macon town and was elected Judge of Probate (uncontested) in the first government organized after the treaty of Dancing Rabbit. A transaction shows John E. in the Police Jury ledger as a testator in a matter involving Seaborn A. Houghton and Chas. M. Johnson. In 1835, John E. of Noxubee witnessed the sale of Monroe Co. lands of Skelton and Lydia of Noxubee, indicating the family now lived in Noxubee.

Judge Carroll's "History of Oktibbeha County " states that Baptists in Beat 5 of that county organized Salem Church ( Rev. Gabel(?) Nash, Pastor) on June 12, 1835. Wiley N. Nash, John Daly and Skelton were listed as deacons.

Tax listings for Jesse M. and James J. Standifer, associated with Skelton and John E., continued through 1838 in Monroe Co. where they may have stayed behind. John E. and Jesse M. seem to have gone to Texas around 1839-40, but James J. continued on Monroe. I believe the proximity of these three persons in tax records indicate they were brothers and children of Skelton.

Back in Noxubee though, Skelton sold property to Shelton Taylor in 1836, and became a member of the Board of County Police 1837-1838. The Chancery Clerk's records (Deed Book 6 or A, page 358) have a deed signed June 1 and recorded June 16, 1836 from Skelton to Elizabeth A. Hudson. The 1837 tax list shows both John E. and Skitton (sic), the first 1 white poll and 2 slaves; the latter 4 white polls and 4 slaves. In 1839, Skelton was a witness for trustees to township in the NW corner of the county with Geo. W. Hinton, Mordecai Harrison and John L. Purdy. Then in the latter half of 1839, the sheriff of Noxubee Co., under orders of the Oktibbeha clerk in the case of Barker & Latimer vs. Skelton Standifer, ordered the sale of his Noxubee property. These sheriff notices in the Macon Intelligencer and Noxubee Post and the land sale that resulted are the last records of Skelton I have found. John E. appears solely on the 1840 census as a 20-30 year old male.

Whether Skelton died, or accompanied John E. or Jesse M. to their lands in Texas, I have no clue yet. He doesn't show up with James J. in Monroe that I can discover. Jesse M. went to Shelbyville, Shelby Co. Texas. He became a doctor, educated in Lexington Ky, and served with the army in North Texas, near Fort Worth. John E. seems to have been ended up in Fannin Co. Texas as a school teacher.

Additional data:

Census of the Republic of Texas - 1840, Montgomery County, Texas.

William Little vs. James Standifer, Executor of Skelton Standifer (Fall Term, Mon. Nov. 23, 1840, Montgomery County, Texas, page 151).

GEDCOM Note

research note: could first wife be Anderson instead of Thornberry? Benjamin Anderson and Thornbury parented Cassandra married Israel Standifer in Md. could first wife be Shipp? Samuel changed name to Sheep, maybe it was his mothers name. a Benjamin Shipp is in Hancock Co Ga and has daughter named Betsy in his 1796 will.

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Skelton (according to Bible records) was born 1772. I believe he and his older brother Jesse, may have moved to Georgia along with some Heards (their mother's people). There they both served in the militia in Greene Co. 1793-94 with Stephen & William Heards, Thomas Woodcock, Brazor Anderson and Henry English.

1796 30 Jan Abram Heard, tax collector for Greene Co to Skelton Standifer of same page 164-65.

In 1798 Skelton showed in the Ga. Tax Digest in Oglethorpe Co. (Wagnon District) with Benjamin (Lee District). Also in 1798 (Greene Co.) Skelton appraised the estate of Brazor Cook Anderson with Henry English, Esq. and Joshua Martin. Another Greene Co. reference dated 1801 describes a slave sale from Skelton to a King. In 1802 Col. William Melton (who with Jesse Standifer had administered the estate of Peter Martin 1796 Greene Co.), recommended Skelton be given a passport through the Creek Nation. In 1803, again Greene Co., Skelton is mentioned in the will of Joshua Martin. In the same county, 1804 Skelton witness a sale from William Melton to John Roberts.

In 1807 Skelton was sent to survey District 28 of Wilkinson Co (now Twiggs). Letter to Gov jared Irwin sent from Ocmulgee Old Fields May 13, 1807

1809 and 1810 editions of Milledgeville newspaper, "Georgia Argus", references Skelton in Eatonton, records payments made by Putnam Co to him for keeping a prisoner and running and laying out of town lots. Putnam County was newly formed from Baldwin Co in 1807 and town of Eatonton was laid out the following year. 1810 census of town showed only 107 whites and 73 slaves, though rural population in county was 10,000.

ROBERT BEAVERS of Greene Co. to SKELTON STANDEFER of same for $190, 133 1/2 a. on waters of South Fork of Little River, bounded NW by JOSHUA MARTIN, SW by WM. RICHARDS, E by JOEL NEWSOME. s/ ROBERT BEAVERS, JANE BEAVERS

An 1809 marriage recorded in Greene Co. shows Skelton marrying a Lydia Echols of Putnam Co. (note: A reference to this wedding in the Joseph Maddox listing indicates this was a second marriage and subsequent census listing would indicate Skelton had children before this time). A biographical reference to Jesse Marshall Standifer (who I believe to be a son of Skelton Standifer) indicates he was born 1814 in Edenton (probably Eatonton, Putnam Co.), which might mean Skelton continued to resided in Georgia till then.

An 1815, Bledsoe Co., Tenn. tax listing lists a Skelton. Either father or brother Isreal appeared there in an 1808 record with Stephen Heard, Thomas Menefee and Christian Rhodes. Previously, circa 1805 William (son of James, son of John) had migrated as one of the first white settlers into the Sequatchie Valley. This William did have a son Skelton, which could account for this tax listing.

Also in 1815, in Madison Co. Ala, Skelton was involved with the execution of the last will & testament of Jesse Hodges. Also mentioned in conjunction with the several related records is David and James Bailey, Ruth (wife of Jesse) and Fleming Hodges.

In 1818, the Skelton name was associated with land transactions in Alabama. It appears on a 1818 patent on Lawrence Co. land at S20-T2-R8W. He shows with Jesse in patents on land in Colbert (then Franklin Co.). In 1818 in Lawrence Co., he witnesses the will of Charles Breedlove with George M. Moore.

Earliest landowner around Center Star, Al in Lauderdale Co.

Another record in October 1818 was recorded in Madison Co. It stated that Skelton appraised the Lawrence Co. property (Milton's Bluff) of John Hutchings, deceased, with Humphrey Warren and Robert White.

The next Skelton reference is 1819 also in Madison Co. Ala, the home of his father. There he is listed as having a letter at the Huntsville post office.

In 1820, the census caught Jesse in Maury Co. Tenn. and Skelton in Lawrence Co. Ala. (1 white male above 21, 3 w/m -21, 2 w/f +21, 5 w/f -21, 7 slaves). A Alabama State census shows in neighboring Franklin Co.

Around 1820: Muscle Shoals Baptist Association nine churches constituted the first association. A committee consisting of John Davis, Jeremiah Burns, George Brown, Willis Hopwood and Shelton Standifer was appointed to draft a constitution, abstract of faith and rules of decorum, which, when presented, were adopted

On August 3, 1821, Skelton of Lawrence Co. Ala. deeded land to Jesse Standifer of Madison Co. Ala. (Deed Book A, page 160).

Then in 1823, in the court case, Skelton vs. Chisolm (Lawrence Co.), he is delivered to the sheriff of Lawrence Co. to pay punitive damages by a Hatley.

"From: Lawrence Co, AL Deed Book, pp 189-190: 11 Oct 1823, received of Josiah Hartley the body of Skelton Standifer in discharge of 3 penal bonds: one for $1, 152 dated 1 January 1822, one for $2,000 dated 1 January 1822, and one for $1, 152 dated 1 January 1822. All returnable to March term of Circuit Court held for Lawrence County, Alabama in 1822 wherein John Chrisholm is plaintiff and Skelton Standifer is defendant & Josiah Hartley is Standifer's bondsman. 11 Oct 1823 William Renau Sheriff of Lawrence County"

That case went before the State Supreme Court and in it Skelton's son was named as Samuel W. Standifer. He testified that he carried slaves under the employ of his uncle Jesse from Alabama to Mississipi. Frances Martin brought another suit against Skelton and one of the Isreal Standifers in 1824 (April term of Madison Co. Ala. Civil Court). The suit stated that the two lost an amount of cotton off of a flatboat they owned operating out of Decatur, Ala. and bound for New Orleans. The court found in favor of Martin and in 1826, after Skelton had moved to Monroe Co. Miss., the court seized eight slaves to repay the damages.

---Madison Co., Al. Chancery Suite; January Term 1832 Standefer versus Chisholm This was a proceeding in Madison Circuit Court to try the right of property in certain slaves levied on as the estate of Skelton Standefer. Before the judgments had been obtained under which Chisholm's excutions were levied, Skelton Standefer to secure and indemnify Jesse Standefer against extensive liabilities as a surety executed a deed of trust of slaves jointly to said Jesse Standefer and one William Patton. Jesse Standefer had employed Samuel W. Standefer as his agent to carry the slaves to Mississippi in 1823. Jesse Standefer resided in Madison Co., Ala. Madison Co., Al. Chancery Records; Book C; page 198 Original Bill filed 6 April, 1832. Mary A Steelman by her next friend Jesse Standifer vs. William Steelman. Oratrix is a daughter of said Jesse Standifer, and in 1818 was married to William Steelman. They resided in Madison County about ten years and had four children, when he left her, went to New Orleans, and to Texas. "King providence withdrew from the scene of affliction two of the unfortunate offspring." Oratrix has been a resident of this county about 19 years. (Mary is found on the 1850 Williamson Co., Texas living with Caroline and James Standefer. She is insane.)

In June 1824, Skelton, Susannah H. and Lucy A. Standifer give letters to the New Hope Church of Monroe Co. Mississippi. Skelton appears on a 1825 Tax List for the county and purchases land in March from Isreal of Bledsoe Co. Tenn. In June 1825, Skelton returns letter to New Hope and is to do the work of deacon. In a land transaction on Oct 13, 1825, he sells property to Richard Sr. and Temple Moons, with payment in seed cotton going to Susan H. Standifer. Elizabeth Standifer and John Brown are witnesses to this. In 1830 Skelton serves as a commissioner to select the new county seat of Monroe (Athens is chosen near his land) and he is appointed to superintend the erection of Public buildings in Athens. Census shows his family in Monroe consists of 3 males (10-20), 1 male (40-60), 1 female (10-20) and one female (20-40). He is also involved in a real estate transaction that year with Gabriel Ragsdale, Isreal Dycke and Stephen Harmon. He becomes (1830) a trustee for school lands with John Echols, William Taylor, Thomas Rea, Issac Anderson and Thomas Nichols. In 1833, he and John E. ( I belive to be another son ) sell slaves to Prewitt and Sims. He also serves on a church committee to look for a new location for the New Hope church.

6/1/1832 listed as Deputy Surveyor for Plat 14N 7E Choctaw (Attala)- Survey Office: Washington Ms.

Listed as Surveyor for: SURVEYSTOWNSHIPS Survey TypeCounty(s)Approved/ Accepted StateTwp-RngBoundaries/ SubdivisionMeridian Original Survey Leake 12/26/1832 Mississippi 12N - 7E Subdivisional Choctaw Original Survey Attala Mississippi 13N - 7E Subdivisional Choctaw Original Survey Attala 10/26/1832 Mississippi 14N - 7E Subdivisional Choctaw Original Survey Attala 10/26/1832 Mississippi 15N - 7E Subdivisional Choctaw Original Survey Winston 12/15/1833 Mississippi 15N - 14E Subdivisional Choctaw Original Survey Noxubee 12/15/1833 Mississippi 15N - 15E Subdivisional Choctaw Original Survey Noxubee 12/15/1833 Mississippi 15N - 16E Subdivisional Choctaw Original Survey Attala 10/26/1832 Mississippi 16N - 7E Subdivisional Choctaw Original Survey Winston 12/15/1833 Mississippi 16N - 14E Subdivisional Choctaw Original Survey Noxubee 12/15/1833 Mississippi 16N - 15E Subdivisional Choctaw Original Survey Noxubee 12/15/1833 Mississippi 16N - 16E Subdivisional Choctaw

As early as 1834, Skelton purchased Noxubee Co. lands. He had surveyed for the government according to a letter reprinted in "Dancing Rabbit , A History of Noxubee County.". John E. was selling lots in Macon town and was elected Judge of Probate (uncontested) in the first government organized after the treaty of Dancing Rabbit. A transaction shows John E. in the Police Jury ledger as a testator in a matter involving Seaborn A. Houghton and Chas. M. Johnson. In 1835, John E. of Noxubee witnessed the sale of Monroe Co. lands of Skelton and Lydia of Noxubee, indicating the family now lived in Noxubee. Judge Carroll's "History of Oktibbeha County " states that Baptists in Beat 5 of that county organized Salem Church ( Rev. Gabel(?) Nash, Pastor) on June 12, 1835. Wiley N. Nash, John Daly and Skelton were listed as deacons.

Tax listings for Jesse M. and James J. Standifer, associated with Skelton and John E., continued through 1838 in Monroe Co. where they may have stayed behind. John E. and Jesse M. seem to have gone to Texas around 1839-40, but James J. continued on Monroe. I believe the proximity of these three persons in tax records indicate they were brothers and children of Skelton. Back in Noxubee though, Skelton sold property to Shelton Taylor in 1836, and became a member of the Board of County Police 1837-1838. The Chancery Clerk's records (Deed Book 6 or A, page 358) have a deed signed June 1 and recorded June 16, 1836 from Skelton to Elizabeth A. Hudson. The 1837 tax list shows both John E. and Skitton (sic), the first 1 white poll and 2 slaves; the latter 4 white polls and 4 slaves. In 1839, Skelton was a witness for trustees to township in the NW corner of the county with Geo. W. Hinton, Mordecai Harrison and John L. Purdy. Then in the latter half of 1839, the sheriff of Noxubee Co., under orders of the Oktibbeha clerk in the case of Barker & Latimer vs. Skelton Standifer, ordered the sale of his Noxubee property. These sheriff notices in the Macon Intelligencer and Noxubee Post and the land sale that resulted are the last records of Skelton I have found. John E. appears solely on the 1840 census as a 20-30 year old male.

Whether Skelton died, or accompanied John E. or Jesse M. to their lands in Texas, is unclear. He doesn't show up with James J. in Monroe that I can discover. Jesse M. went to Shelbyville, Shelby Co. Texas. He became a doctor, educated in Lexington Ky, and served with the army in North Texas, near Fort Worth. John E. seems to have been ended up in Fannin Co. Texas as a school teacher.

Additional data:

Census of the Republic of Texas - 1840, Montgomery County, Texas.

William Little vs. James Standifer, Executor of Skelton Standifer (Fall Term, Mon. Nov. 23, 1840, Montgomery County, Texas, page 151).