Benjamin Franklin Shiplet

Submitted by: Nell Arledge
petronella@door.net

Comments: I know little about Benjamin Franklin Shiplet who was called Frank. He died before my mother was born, so she could tell me very little about him. His granddaughter, Julia Shiplet Berlin told me his name. What meager information I have on him is through marriage, census, cemetery, and military records that I have researched. Even though I have hired professional genealogists; we have not been able to establish who his parents were. No documents, that I have seen, in the Augusta Co. Courthouse can connect Frank to his ancestors. The census records show that Frank worked as a laborer for most of his life. Those records also reveal that he was illiterate and his marriage bond showed his signature to be an X. He and his wife Mary Ann Reed settled in Augusta Co., Va. where they became the parents of six children. Their 5th child, Washington Peyton Shiplet, was my grandfather, whom I never got to meet. In 1991, I located a professional genealogist, Donna Huffer, in Virginia who found Frank's military record. She discovered the book, The 52nd Virginia Regiment authored by a Mr. Driver that contained the following information:

Shifflett, or Shipplett, Franklin: Pvt., Co. F. B. Va. 1823? Farmhand, age 37, Parnassus, Augusta Co. 1860 census. Enl. Staunton 7/31/61.Ab. Sick 11/18/61-12/31/61. Present 1-3-62. AWOL 4/26/62. Reenlisted 5/1/62. AWOL 6/6-12/21/62. Present in arrest 1-2/63. Discharged for over age 5-21-63. Deserted to the enemy New Creek. W.Va. 11/11/64. Sent to Wheeling, W.Va. Arrested as a spy there 12/26/64. Sent to Camp Chase, Ohio. Age 47, 5'9', fair complexion, grey eyes, light hair. Released 6/26/65. Farmhand, age 49, Mt. Sidney P.O. , Augusta Co. 1870 census

Mrs. Huffer enclosed the following paragraph: "I called Mr. Driver, author of The 52nd Regiment, and asked him where he got his civil war information on Shiplet and he told me that he copied the information on microfilm from The National Archives. He said he copied all that was there. He explained that the men of the Shenandoah Valley were pretty sick of the war, a war that they had no interest in, and deserted by the hundreds to the union troops in West Virginia. All they had to do was take an oath and then they went free. Frank was put on a train to Wheeling, W.Va. with other deserters. Something happened--he said something to upset the union troops there--in some way convincing them he was returning to his troop and they arrested him. They sent him to prison Camp Chase in Ohio where he was kept until after the war."

Additional information from Shiflet and Allied Families 2nd ed. (not yet published) supplied by Larry Shifflett

Created 1 July 2000, updated 23 Aug 2000
updated 2 June 2008 by Bob Klein
updated Feb 2020 by Bob Klein

1. Benjamin Franklin Shiplet b. 2 Jul 1822 in VA, d. 6 Feb 1896 Buried: Parnassus Methodist Church Cemetery, Augusta Co., VA, probably the son of Thomas and Lucy Ham Shiflett (see notes, below).

m. 29 May 1848 in Augusta Co., VA

Mary Ann Reed b. abt 1827, d. 15 Oct 1897 Buried: Parnassus Methodist Church Cemetery, Augusta Co., VA, d/o Benjamin and Sarah E. Paine Reed

2. James Shiplet b. 1849 prob. Augusta Co., VA
2. Benjamin Franklin Shiplet, Jr. b. 15 May 1850 in Augusta Co., VA, d. 1 Dec 1917 in Augusta Co., VA, Buried: Union Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Augusta Co., VA, m(1) 13 Jan 1876 in Augusta Co., VA to Mary Elizabeth Jones b. 21 Jun 1847, d. 12 Sep 1903, Buried: Union Presbyterian Church Cemetery d/o ? and Eliza Powers Jones, m(2) 16 Nov 1904 in Augusta Co., VA to Mary E. Kerr, widow, b. 1850 in Caroline Co., d. 25 Nov 1915 in Augusta Co., VA, Buried: Union Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Augusta Co., VA, d/o Jesse Chew

Issue with Mary E. Jones:
3. George Peyton Shiplett b. 7 Jan 1877 in Augusta Co., VA, d. 5 Jun 1949 in VA, m(1) Jo Etta Unknown b. 17 Nov 1864 in Augusta Co., VA, d. 8 Feb 1905 in Augusta Co., VA, m(2) abt 1907 to Celestine Gatwood Smith b. 27 Jun 1882 in Bluefield, Mercer Co., WV, d. 12 May 1956 in Mount Solon, Augusta Co., VA from Acute Coronary Insufficiency,death certificate has birth as 26 Jun 1883
All Three Buried: Mossy Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Mount Solon, Augusta Co., VA

4. Warren alexander Shiplett b. 24 Apr 1908 in Augusta Co., VA, d. 26 Feb 1909 in Augusta Co., VA
4. Frank M. Shiplett b. 3 Jan 1910 in Augusta Co., VA, d. 13 Aug 1931 in Augusta Co., VA
4. Bailey Shiplett b. 18 Jan 1912 in Augusta Co., VA, d. 16 Oct 1938 in Augusta Co., VA, Died from Pneumona acute Lobar lower lobe, Buried: Mossy Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Mount Solon, Augusta Co., VA
4. George P. Shiplett b. 3 Jul 1913 in Augusta Co., VA, d. 19 Aug 1913 in Augusta Co., VA
4. David Henry Shiplett, Sr. b. 7 Dec 1914 in Augusta Co., VA, d. 7 Oct 1955 in Augusta Co., VA, m. Mary Frances Adams b. 29 Nov 1919, d. 13 May 1949, Both Buried: Thornrose Cemetery, Staunton, Augusta Co., VA

5. Doris Ann Shiplett b. 11 Dec 1934 in Augusta Co., VA, d. 21 Jul 2013 in Augusta Co., VA
5. Celestine Faith Shiplett b. 12 Mar 1942 in Augusta Co., VA, m(1) 2 Sep 1961 in VA to Raymond Wimer, m(2) 22 DEc 1973 in Staunton, VA to Raymond Melvin Botkin, m(3) 17 Feb 2006 in Augusta Co., VA to James Henry Hayes Jr.
5. David Henry Shiplett Jr. b. 13 Jun 1944 in Augusta Co., VA, d. 1 Mar 1910 in Richmond, Henrico Co., VA

4. Virginia Elizabeth Shiplett b. 16 Feb 1919 in Augusta Co., VA, d. 29 Sep 1993 in Charlottesville, Albemarle Co., VA, m 29 Jul 1940 in Staunton, Augusta Co., VA to William Harvey Alger, b. 6 Jul 1914, d. 12 May 1987 in Waynesboro, Augusta Co., VA, Bot Buried: Thornrose Cemetery, Staunton, Augusta Co., VA
4. Albert Reid "Skip" Shiplett b. 31 Dec 1920 in Augusta Co., VA, d. 29 Jul 1998 in Augusta Co., VA, m. Ella may Graddick b. 18 DEc 1919 in Bishopville, Lee Co., SC, d. 19 Aug 1983 in Staunton, Augusta Co., VA, Both Buried: Augusta Memorial Park Cemetery, Waynesboro, Augusta Co., VA
4. Wilbert R. Shiplett b. abt 1922 in Augusta Co., VA

3. Charles Shiplett b. abt 1879 in VA, may have died before 1900
3. Margaret C. Shiplett b. abt 1890 in VA, living at King Co. Hospital, Brooklyn N.Y. in 1917
3. Elizabeth B. Shiplett b. abt 1885 in VA, living at Base Hospital, Camp Zacharia, Louisville, KY in 1917
3. John E. Shiplett, b. 30 Apr 1892, d. 7 Oct 1942 in Staunton, Augusta Co., VA, living in Hagerstown, Maryland 1917. Info from B.F. Shiplett's will 1917 Augusta Co. VA

2. John T. Shiplet b. 1852 in Augusta Co., VA, m(1) 20 Jan 1876 in Augusta Co., VA to Barbara C. Orebaugh b. abt 1854, d. bet. 1900 - 1910, d/o Samuel & Betsy Propst Orebaugh, m(2) bef 1910 in PA to Edna Unknown

3. Lucy T. Shiplet b. 1879 to Augusta Co., VA, m(1) abt 1901 to Unknown Fry, m(2) James Randolph Scott, b. abt 1879 in PA
Issue with Unknown Fry:

4. Elmer E. Fry b. abt 1902 in PA, m. abt 1928 in PA to Florence R. Unknown b. abt 1902 in PA. Elmer is listed in the 1930 census as Earl E. Scott living next door to his mother and step-father. I'm guessing his step-father adopted him and that is why the last name is now Scott

2. Daniel H. Shiplet b. abt. Dec 1854 Augusta Co., VA, m. abt 1885 to Emma Unknown b. abt Sep 1861 in PA, d. bef 1910

3. Clarence E. Shiplett, b. Dec 1886 in VA
3. William S. Shiplett b. Mar 1890 in PA
3. Edgar H. Shiplett b. Jun 1892 in PA
3. Della Shiplett b. Sep 1894 in PA

2. Washington Peyton Shiplet b. 29 May 1857 in Staunton, Augusta Co., VA, d. 28 Dec 1922 in Waxahachie, Ellis Co., TX, m. 29 May 1879 in Marlinton, Pocahontas, WV to Petronella Frances Perry b. 05 May 1863 in WV, d. 12 Nov 1952 in Waxahachie, Ellis Co., TX, d/o William T. Perry & Derica Van Reenen

3. Mary May Shiplet b. 16 May 1881 in Huntersville, Pocahontas Co., WV, d. 13 May 1952 in Waxahachie, Ellis, TX, m(1) 26 Oct 1901 in Waxahachie, Ellis, TX to William David Forbes, m(2) unknown; m(3) to Ward Hall. No children. She raised a foster son: Conway Marion King b. 1919, d. during WWII
3. Martha Julia Shiplet b. 28 Jul 1883 in Huntersville, Pocahontas Co., WV, d. 29 Dec 1972 in Waxahachie, Ellis Co., TX, m(1) 19 May 1901 in Waxahachie, TX to Thomas Edward Berlin, d. 12 Dec 1947 in Dallas, TX, m(2) 2 Oct 1955 in Denison, TX to Robert W. Marshall

4. William David Berlin b. 5 Dec 1904 in Waxahachie, TX, d. 31 May 1984 in Dallas, TX, m. 17 Apr 1926 in Waco, TX to Elizabeth Nall, d. 22 Jul 1983 in Dallas, TX, d/o Virgil Lewis Nall b. 1878 in KY and Narcissus Esther Walker b. 1877 in TX
4. Harry Edward Berlin b. 8 Sep 1906 in Waxahachie, TX, d. 1992 m(1) Mary Edwin Nall, m(2) to Jessie Lou Moffitt, m(3) to Margaret ? No children by last two wives.

3. Bertha Kate Elizabeth Shiplet b. 18 Jul 1885 in Huntersville, Pocahontas Co., WV, d. 28 Jun 1954 in CA m. 20 Oct 1909 in Waxahachie, TX to Benjamin Oscar Herring b. 27 Jan 1889, d. 22 Jul 1973 in Waco, TX
3. Elizabeth Shiplet b. 1888 (per Larry Shifflett)
3. William Franklin Shiplett b. 1894 in Waxahachie, Ellis Co., TX, d. Oct 1898 in Waxahachie, Ellis Co., TX
3. Samuel Edward Shiplett (S.E.) b. 14 May 1900 in Waxahachie, Ellis Co., TX, d. 17 May 1957 in Waxahachie, TX m. 11 Jan 1920 in Waxahachie, TX to Velma Ophelia Moses b. 04 Sep 1902 in TX, d. 28 Jun 1993 in Ellis Co., TX

4. Ida H. Shiplett, born abt 1922 in TX, m(1) 23 Oct 1976 in Ellis Co., TX to Walkup G. Stephenson b. 2 Feb 1899, d. Oct 1981 in Waxahachie, Ellis Co., TX, m(2) 27 Feb 1982 in Ellis Co., TX to John J. Defoore, b. 13 Sep 1918, d. May 1984 in Ellis Co., TX, m(3) 14 Dec 1990 in Kaufman Co., TX to Raymond L. Odaniel
4. other children

3. Winnie Perry Shiplet b. 18 Jun 1906 in Waxahachie, TX, d. 25 Feb 2000 in Baker City, OR, m. 10 Jul 1924 in West, TX to Joseph Keyworth Buck d. 28 Aug 1976 in Waxahachie, TX s/o Nicholas Clark Buck and Mary Louise Keyworth.

4. Mary Edith Buck b. 14 Feb 1927 in Waxahachie, Ellis Co., TX, d. 29 Dec 1928
4. Benjamin Edward Buck b. 24 Nov 1939 in Waxahachie, Ellis Co., TX, d. 24 Nov 1939 in Waxahachie, Ellis Co., TX

3. Francis Peyton Shiplet b. 12 May 1909 in Waxahachie, TX ,d. 10 Feb 1989 in Waxahachie, TX, m. 26 Aug 1932 to Mary Carolyn Embrey b. 22 Mar 1911 in Ellis Co. TX, d. 1 Aug 1994 in Waxahachie, TX, d/o Eddie D. Embrey and Sally Woodall. No Children.

2. Nancy Adeline Shiplet (f) b. 1860 in Augusta Co., VA
2. Sarah C. Shiplet b. abt 1862 VA

Notes:
Benjamin Franklin Shiflett b. 1822 who m. 1848 Mary Ann Reed, is probably the son of Thomas and Lucy Ham Shiflett. Circumstantial evidence that supports this:

Thomas & Lucy are "missing" 2 children: one b. 1822-26, the other b.1814-1818 and B. Franklin was b. 1822
Franklin is living next door to their known son William L. on the Augusta 1850 census;
Reuben Reed, age 70, is living in William's HH; and Franklin m. a Reed--we are trying to find out how Reuben is related to her.

I know that's not a lot of evidence, but that's all we have at this point in time.

I have found Benjamin Franklin Shiplett on the following census records:

1850 Augusta Co., VA, Census, ED2, Family 208, H of HH, Franklin Shiplett, age 27, also listed is James, age 1, Benjamin age 1/12, and Mary age 23
1860 Augusta Co., VA, Census, North Subdivision, Family 526, H of HH, F. Shifflett, age 37, born in VA, day laborer. There is also a Adaline Reed age 27 in this HH, I'm guessing this is a sister-in-law.
1870 Augusta Co., VA, Census, ED3, Family 104, H of HH, Franklin Shifflet, age 49, farm laborer
1880 Augusta Co., VA, Census, North River, ED25, Family 13, H of HH, Franklin Shiplet, age 56, born in VA, farm laborer

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