This is a good place to post family history to come back to later. Perhaps someone will make a book of it someday. My part is doing the research.
Shadrack Turner, 1720-1784, Virginia. Evidently some kind of person with a position in the community. This is an entry about him. I don’t even understand what I am reading, some sort of public record:
Source Information:
Index to enrolled bills pertaining to Henry County in the general assembly of Virginia from 1776 to 1910.
“Shadrack Turner for use of his horse and 9 diets to Captain Robell’s Camp Company ordered out against the Tories: also for 4 diets and 15 lbs. Fodder to Colonel Crockett’s regiment.”
Shadrack is the great-great-great grandfather (through her mother, Cora Belle Owens) of Mary Frances Reid Agnew, my grandma Agnew.
I notice another person seems to always appear alongside him: Meshack Turner. They are also listed in Magazine of VA Genealogy,v.23n1, under “Lankford’s List, for “Oaths of Allegiance, 1777, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, p.6.”
The magazine was publ. actually in 1985, a historical magazine for the purpose of genealogy records. FASCINATING, these are “OATHS OF ALLEGIANCE” that swear loyalty to the Commonwealth of VA. and RENOUNCES allegiance to King George III! Anyone who refused to take this oath were subject to being disarmed, could not serve on juries, hold office, sue for debts, or purchase land.
Doctor Grandma 
December 17, 2010 at 2:44 pm |
You and I, girl, we could join the DAR. Fun bunch, that. I wonder if Shadrack and Meshack had a brother, Abednego. Pondering forced allegience. Were the horses and “diet” collected in the same way. It does seem to suggest he was recompensed in some way.
August 19, 2011 at 1:03 pm |
This is my family too. My great great grandfather was Solomon Jordan, my grandfather George Franklin Owens. George came to California to go to law school. My father George F Jr. was born in San Francisco in 1920 Would love to compare notes
Claudia Owerns Skapik
December 27, 2011 at 11:59 am |
Let me interject here:
Evidence indicates that the Turner’s were not ‘forced’ into allegiance, etc, but that they were willing patriots.
The strongest indication of this is that Shadrach’s sons William, Josiah, and John were volunteers for the militia.
Keyword is ‘volunteer’, and not drafted.
When one is drafted it is impossible to know their true leanings, but for the Turner family, 3 sons that are known to have volunteered makes a strong case…
Andy Doss
Past-president Col George Waller SAR
Descendant of Shadrach Turner
December 27, 2011 at 2:52 pm |
Shadrack Turner is my 5th great grandfather, through Mary his daughter to her daughter Frances “Fanny” Owens, to Solomon Jordan Owens, to Cora Belle Owens, to Mary Frances Reid, mother of my father. My middle name is Frances.
December 27, 2011 at 2:58 pm |
“Diet” here I think means food given for the horses.
February 15, 2013 at 6:47 pm |
Shadrack Turner is my 5TH Great Grandfather also, his son Jeremiah –Edmond– Herod Volney–John– Jasper–Earl.
February 15, 2013 at 8:29 pm |
Hello, cousin!
August 3, 2013 at 2:19 pm |
Shadrack Turner is my 5th Great Grandfather. Son
Jeremiah-David-Virginia Turner Roberson later changed to Robinson. I really would like a photo of Shadrack.
August 30, 2013 at 8:42 am
No images of Shdrach are known to exist – if they did, it would have to be paintings as he died long before camera’s existed.