The Shrewsbury Family
Descendants of Jeremiah Solesbury (Shrewsbury)
Jeremiah Solesbury came from England to Franklin County, Virginia. He purchased the land in Mercer
County, (West) Virginia which is now Spanishburg, West Virginia. Land records show that Jeremiah purchased this
land circa 1805. He died between 1808-1809 and is buried along with his wife, Mary Elizabeth Clay in the
Cemetery on Knubbings Ridge, Spanishburg. Mary is the sister of Mitchell Clay, Sr. of the Bluestone area. She
was the daughter of William Mitchell Clay.
Mary and Jeremiah had ten children:
1. Martha "Millie" Solesbury married Josiah Ferguson.
2. Elizabeth Rhoda Solesbury was born between 1784-1794. She was married on November 12, 1814 in
Giles County, Virginia to Henry J. Clay. Henry was the son of Mitchell Clay, Sr. and Phoebe Belcher.
Henry and Rhoda had ten children: Lucinda, Bartley, Russell, Henry, Arbela, Tabitha, Burrell, John
William, Green, and George.
3. Polly Solesbury married Bird Godfrey.
4. Josiah Solesbury
5. Elizabeth "Betsey" Solesbury married Jabez Maxey.
6. Sally Solesbury married Matthew Erikson.
7. *John Solesbury married Elizabeth Bailey, daughter of Richard Bailey, Jr. John was a large land owner
in the Lashmeet-Matoaka, West Virginia area. Children included: Samuel, John, and Phillip. See
follownig article.
8. Hanour Solesbury - died before marrying.
9. Thomas Solesbury married Lucy Maxey. Thomas and Lucy were married in Franklin County, Virginia
January 7, 1801. The name is spelled Salsbury in the marriage record. Lucy is listed as the daughter of
Josiah and Phoebe Maxey and the Surety was John Maxey. Information taken from "Marriage Bonds of
Franklin County, Virginia 1786-1858," by Wingfield. Children included: Mary, Phillip, Jeremiah,
Nancy, John, Lucy, Thomas, Sarah, Millie, Rebecca, Phoebe, and William. *See the
following article on Nancy and Millie Solesbury.
10. *Phillip Solesbury married Mary Elizabeth Bailey, daughter of Reuben and Sarah Bailey.
Nancy and Millie Solesbury's Story
Daughters of Thomas and Lucy Maxey Solesbury
Granddaughters of Jeremiah and Mary Clay Solesbury
The following article was taken from the Families of Wyoming County,
WV newsletter. It appeared in Volume 10, Issue #2 -- no date is listed on the
publication, however it is believed that Volume 10 was for the year 1996. There
are inconsistencies in the spelling of some names.
Pleasants Lilly was born about 1807 in Giles County, Virginia and died in
Raleigh County, West Virginia. He is buried along near the Odd Road. Pleasants
is the son of Thomas & Rosanna Meador Lilly. Thomas Lilly was the son of
Robert and Frances Moody Lilly. Rosanna Meador was the daughter of Josiah
and Laving Meador.
Pleasants was married about 1823 probably in Giles County (no record
found) to Delilah Pittman. Delilah, daughter of Rueben Pittman was born
December 23, 1801 and died July 18 1877 - 75y 6 m 12d.
It seems there was a problem between Delilah and Pleasants. Their
youngest son, William was born December 16, 1832 in Giles County. Whatever
the problem, Pleasants looked elsewhere and found companionship.
Pleasants moved two sisters Millie and Nancy Solesbury onto his farm and
started to
raise two additional families. Millie and Nancy appear to be the daughters of
Thomas Solesbury and his wife Lucy Maxey. The first of his new family
arrived about 1836 from Nancyand the last also from Nancy arrived July 16,
1857. Between these dates Millie presented Pleasants with 11 children and
Nancy another 10. It has been reported that Pleasants' Will named all of his
children that were still living when he died.
Prior to 1850 Delilah moved from the farm and is listed with her 16 year old
son, Christopher, on the 1850 Raleigh County, Virginia Census. Legend has it
that the two sisters told Delilah that they were going to kill her. Who knows?
This may be the reason Deliliah left. Anyway, Delilah would not give Pleasants a
divorce. When she died he married Millie (no record found). After Millie died he
married Millie's sister, Nancy.
Pleasants Lilly and Delilah Pittman had four sons.
1. Hiram R. Lilly born March 1825 in Giles County, Virginia and
married 23 September 1847 in Fayette County, Vriginia to Elizabeth
R. "Bess" Lilly born about 1823 in Giles County, Virginia. She was
the daughter of Thomas and Delilah Payne Lilly.
2. John Lilly born 21 March 1829 in Giles County, Virginia and died
15 Nov 18__ in Raleigh County, West Virginia. He married 10 Apr 1856
in Raleigh County, West Virginia to Salina Roles born 18 Jan 1834
in Monroe County, Virginia. She was the daughter of Joshua and
Hannah Clark Roles.
3. Christopher Lilly born about 1832 in Giles County, Virginia and
died 29 Jun 1881. He married 18 Sep 1865 in Raleigh County, West
Virginia to Ruth Lilly born about 1843 in Mercer County, Virginia.
She was the daughter of Turner and Araminta Brammer Lilly.
4. William H. "Ground Hog Bill" Lilly born 1832 in Giles County,
Virginia and died 29 August 1909 in Summers County, West Virginia.
He married first about 1851 in Mercer County, Virginia to Frances
Malissa Lilly born about 1833 Giles County, Virginia and died between
1870-1879 in Mercer County, West Virginia. She was the daughter of
Thomas and Delilah Payne Lilly. Bill married second on 2 Apr 1874
in Summers County, West Virginia to Julina Frances Ferguson born
17 Dec 1846 in Mercer County, Virginia. Julina died 29 Oct 1927 in
Summers County, West Virginia. She was the daughter of John and
Susan Walker Ferguson.
Pleasants Lilly and Millie Solesbury had eleven children. Some records
show the children using Lilly as their surname and some using Solesbury.
1. Green W. Lilly born about 1837 in Mercer County, Virginia and
married 26 Oct 1865 in Raleigh County, West Virginia to Lourana
Prince born about 1836 in Giles County, Virginia. She was the daughter
of William and Lucy Solesbury Prince. Lucy Solesbury Prince was a sister to
Millie Solesbury Lilly, mother of Green thus making Green and
Lourana first cousins.
2. Daniel Boone Shrewsbury born about 1839 in Mercer County,
Virginia and married 18 Jun 1857 in Mercer County, West Virginia to
Ceclia Anna Lilly born about 1835 in Giles County, Virginia. She was
the daughter of Turner and Arminta Brammer Lilly.
3. Clarissa Ann Solesbury born about 1841 Mercer County, Virginia.
She married first on 7 Oct 1858 in Wyoming County, West Virginia to
Thomas Graham born about 1837 in Floyd County, Virginia. He was
the son of Luke and Mary Duncan Graham. Clarissa married second on 16
Jan 1869 in Wyoming County, West Virginia to William David Lilly
born about 1851 in Mercer County, Virginia. He was the son of
Joshua and Hester Kinzer Lilly.
4. Wilmouth Solesbury born about 1843 in Mercer County, Virginia
and married 15 Aug 1859 Mercer County, Virginia to John W.
Browning Jr. born about 1837 in Mercer County, Virginia. He was the
son of John W. and Tamsey Louise Lilly Browning.
5. Elizabeth Solesbury born about 1844 and married 25 Aug 1859 in
Wyoming County, West Virginia to Parkerson Richmond born
about 1838 in Fayette County, Virginia. He was the son of John and
Margaret Richmond.
6. Amanda M. Lilly born about 1845 in Mercer County, Virginia and
married 10 Jan 1867 in Raleigh County, West Virginia to Elisha E.
Bowlen born about 1844 in Mercer County, Virginia. He was the son of
Joshua and Nancy Holliday Bolen.
7. Judith "Juda" Solesbury born about 1846 in Mercer County,
Virginia and married 30 Oct 1865 in Raleigh County, West Virginia to
Lee Allen Prince born about 1843 in Mercer County, Virginia. He was
the son of William and Lucy Solesbury Prince.
8. Lydia Solesbury born about 1847 in Mercer County, Virginia and
married 20 Nov 1865 in Raleigh County, West Virginia to Hugh G. Prince
born about 1847 Mercer County, Virginia. He was the son of William
and Lucy Solesbury Prince.
9. Margaret J. Lilly born about 1848 Mercer County, Virginia and
married 5 Jan 1867 in Raleigh County, West Virginia to George W.
Bowlen born about 1848 in Mercer County, Virginia. He was the son
of Joshua and Nancy Holliday Bolen.
10. John W. Solesbury born about 1853 in Mercer County, Virginia and
died 15 Nov 1874 in Raleigh County, West Virginia. John never
married.
11. Pleasants L. Lilly born about 1855 in Mercer County, Virginia and
married 23 Nov 1875 in Raleigh County, West Virginia to Mary Frances
Prince born about 1853 in Mercer County, Virginia. She was the
daughter of William and Lucy Solesbury Prince.
Pleasants Lilly and Nancy Solesbury were the parents of ten children. All
of Nancy's children used Solesbury. Nancy's tombstone lists her name as
Solesbury although she and Pleasants were married. She is buried next to her son
Augustus in a cemetery on Sullivan Road, in Raleigh County, West Virginia.
1. Jane Solesbury born about 1836 in Giles County, Virginia
2. Rebecca Solesbury born about 1838 in Mercer County, Virginia
3. Frances Solesbury born about 1840 in Mercer County, Virginia
4. Cynthia Solesbury born about 1843 in Mercer County, Virginia and
married 25 Aug 1892 in Raleigh County, West Virginia to Joab
Meador born in Summers County, West Virginia. He was the son of
Thomas and Lydia Payne Meador.
5. Marinda Adeline Solesbury born about 1845 in Mercer County,
Virginia and married 17 Oct 1864 in Wyoming County, West Virginia to
Anderson Graham born about 1845 in Mercer County, Virginia. He
was the son of Luke and Mary Duncan Graham.
6. Augustus Bird "Gus" Solesbury born about 1847 in Mercer
County, Virginia and married first on 13 Jan 1867 in Mercer County,
West Virginia to Mary Meador born about 1843 Mercer County,
Virginia. She was the daughter of William and Polly Armstrong Meador. Gus
married second to Virginia Polk daughter of Daniel and Sarah Cox
Polk.
7. Nancy Catherine Solesbury born about 1849 in Mercer County,
Virginia and married 20 November 1865 in Raleigh County, West Virginia
to Creed T. Meador born about 1848 in Mercer County, Virginia. He
was the son of Joseph G. "Joe Bede" and Julina "Juda" Lilly
Meador.
8. Rhoda E. Solesbury born about 1850 in Mercer County, Virginia
and married first on 29 Nov 1870 in Mercer County, West Virginia to
Lorenzo Dow Meador born about 1849 in Mercer County, Virginia.
He was the son of Joseph G. "Joe Bede" and Julina "Juda" Lilly Meador.
Rhoda may have married a Lawson after Lorenzo.
9. Docia Saulsbury born about 1854 in Wyoming County, West
Virginia and married on 28 Oct 1871 in Summers County, West
Virginia to Austin C. Hatcher born about 1850 in Mercer County,
Virginia. He was the son of Elijah Preston and Germima Ferguson Hatcher.
10. William Edward Solesbury born 16 Jul 1857 in Mercer County,
Virginia and died about 1939. He married on 16 Aug 1880 in Raleigh
County, West Virginia to Mary Elizabeth Anderson born about 1859
in Mercer County, Virginia. She was the daughter of Berry and Sarah E.
Cooner Anderson.
Phillip Solesbury (Shrewsbury)2
Jeremiah1
Phillip Solesbury married Mary Elizabeth "Betsey" Bailey, daughter of Reuben and Sarah
Bailey on January 22, 1815 in Tazewell County, Virginia. Phillip owned the north side of the river at
Spanishburg, West Virginia (starting at the high school going toward Camp Creek, West Virginia).
Phillip and Betsey's marriage is recorded in Marriage Book 1 at the Tazewell County Courthouse.
Phillip is shown to have changed his name to Shrewsbury when he moved to Mercer County. A sale
paper recorded that Phillip and Betsy's land was sold for settlement of their estate in 1853. They are
buried at Knubbings Ridge, Spanishburg where Phillip's parents are buried.
Phillip and Betsy had six children:
1. James William Shrewsbury was born June 10, 1848 and died May 10, 1911. He married Julia
Ann Basham on August 24, 1871 in Wyoming County, West Virginia. James and Julia lived in a log
house on 100 acres of land at Beeson. They are buried in the Tiller Cemetery located beside the
home. James and Julia had nine children: John William, Reece Bailey, Isiah Hamilton, Levi
Wayman, Phillip Sherman, Mary Elizabeth, Rosa Bell, Victory J., and Julia Frances.
2. Bailey Shrewsbury
3. Sarah Shrewsbury
4. Mary Shrewsbury was born 1811 and died 1896. She was the second wife of Josiah Maxey.
5. William Shrewsbury was born 1819 and died 1882. He married first to Vista A. and had eight
children. He married second to Sara Ann Jestin Bailey and had 5 children. While William was
married to Sarah Ann he kept a mistress - Mary Jane Mills. Mary Jane and William had four
children.
6. *John Shrewsbury married Elizabeth Bailey. Elizabeth is the daughter of Richard P. Bailey,
Jr. and Isabel Ferguson. See following article.
John Shrewsbury3
Phillip2, Jeremiah1
John Shrewsbury was born 1823 in Giles County, Virginia. The
1850 Mercer County WV Census shows that he was a farmer and his age
was 27. John married Elizabeth "Betsey" Bailey in 1845 in Mercer
County, (West) Virginia. She was born around 1829 in Giles County,
Virginia. John died before 1900.
All of the records on John had the Shrewsbury spelling. John and
Elizabeth probably died in Mercer County, but due to the fire at the Mercer
County Courthouse alot of records for this time were destroyed. Mercer
County Census showed that John lived near his brother William at Beeson,
West Virginia.
John and Elizabeth had seven children:
1. James William Shrewsberry was born June 10, 1848 in Mercer County,
(West) Virginia and died May 10, 1911. James was married on August 24, 1871
in Wyoming County, West Virginia to Julia Ann Basham who was born 1850 in
Mercer County, (West) Virginia.
2. Fannie E. Shrewsbury
3. Sarah Shrewsbury was born 1858. Sarah was listed on the 1860
Mercer County Census as being age 2, she was not listed in any other
census so it is assumed that she died.
4. Isiah Winton "Speckled Wint" Shrewsbury was born 1870 and
died 1938. He married Araminta Little on September 13, 1893.
Araminta was born 1879 and died 1964. Both are buried in the
Shrewsbury Cemetery on Arista Mountain.
5. Irvin Hall Shrewsbury was born August 5, 1853 and died November
2, 1930. He was married three times. Children with first wife
included: Allie and Ed; children with second wife included: Perry and
Boyd; and children with third wife included: Austin, Belle, and
Edith.
6. Reece B. Shrewsbury was born 1851 and died April 23, 1883 after
a tree fell on him. He was married twice. First to Mary Clendenen,
children included: Josephine Isabel. Second to Almeda Thompson,
children included: Latha, Savillia, Garfield, and Straley.
7. *Victoria Shrewsbury born February 20, 1866 and died May 27,
1938. She married Ulysses Grant White. Victoria and Grant had
five children. Victoria is buried in the John Riley Shrewsbury Cemetery
on Herndon Mountain, Wyoming County, West Virginia. See the
article on U. Grant White.
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