Hoping this will look familiar to someone- I am in search of a Caroline Mears, daughter of James P. Mears and Elizabeth Rawls. She married a Shelton abt 1858, who enlisted for the Civil War, and died during training. The entire Mears clan left for SW Arkansas in 1861/2. I'm hoping to learn the name of her Shelton husband, or details concerning her family.

Hi! I am a descendant of Eliza Mears, younger sister of Carolina Mears. I don't yet know much about the family either, but Eliza married James Morgan Wyatt, my great-grandfather around 1866-1867; I am not sure where she was living when he met and married her but probably in Arkansas based on what you say in your posting. (He had been in prison in the Civil War and was presumed dead; when he went home to his first wife in Cass County, Missouri, he found her married to someone else and decided to leave for Texas and join friends he had fought with in the Civil War. His route was likely through Arkansas and he probably met and married Eliza there about 1867.)

James and Eliza Wyatt appear together with two daughters, Ellen and Elizabeth, ages 3 years and 9 months, in the September 1870 Hopkins County, Tx census; also in the household is Charles Wyatt and his wife, Ada, probably the brother of James wyatt. This census indicates Eliza Mears Wyatt was 21 years old and could not read or write.

The family started moving west and my grandfather was born in Cooke County (near Gainesville, Texas) in April 1871. I am not sure when Eliza died, but it was before 1880, as James and their three children are found in St. Jo, Texas (Montague County) in that census. He remarried in 1881 to Isabelle Coley and had eight more children. Isabelle finished rearing the children of Eliza Mears Wyatt

Get in touch with me if possible at zimsplace@comcast.net

Don't have a younger sister Eliza. Do have one that's two years older. We should compare notes.

~ Rob

Rob,

I believe I have found the name of the unknown Shelton. Of course, it would be John. There are a group of pgs on the usgenweb Sevier Co AR site titled "Indigent Soldiers". The Sheltons are listed on pg 22. It is hard to read which unit he was in, it looks like 1st TX Legion. There is a John Shelton in the 27th Texas Calvary(Whitfield's Unit) aka 1st Texas Legion. Several from Sevier Co served in that unit, my gggrandfather and his brother for a couple.

I sent a msg to the 2005 address I had for you. I do not know if it is still good so I thought I would post here,as well.

Also, Georgeanna married James Jefferson Trammell. He died in 1918 LR Co., she died in 1949 Hardeman Co TX. Her death cert is on the LDS pilot site. I had told you previously she married an Altenbaumer, but I was wrong.

And, I do have an Eliza 3yrs younger than Caroline along with Elizabeth who is older. I have no other info on her.

Good luck,
Rayedene

Do you have something that shows a relationship for this Shelton. I searched a while back through military records for Sheltons, and simply couldn't find a connection between any of them and the Trammell family "legend," with Georgia, or with the Mears family.

Georgia died in Childress county on the cert, not Hardeman. I have not seen that LDS site before, though I had heard someone at a local LDS center talk about the project years ago. That is great.

I do have a little more info on Caroline. Good e-mail is zimsplace@comcast.net

Thanks for the information!!

~ Rob

I would welcome any direct contacts at joanbusiness-genealogy @ yahoo.com regarding this Mears family. Caroline Mears was the sister of my great-grandmother.

My great-grandmother, Eliza Mears Wyatt, born 1847 in Smith Co., MS, died 1880 in St. Jo (Montague County), TX, and is apparently buried in Pioneer Cemetery on the outskirts of the city. Her spouse, James Morgan Wyatt, was buried beside her in 1905; his grave is marked with a Confederate stone. Her grave, unfortunately, was vandalized and the tombstone is rubble.

What is that LDS pilot site you all have mentioned?

Raydene, I saw your message re Mears/Shelton which also mentioned Georgia Ann Shelton, wife of James Jefferson Trammell. Georgia Ann and James Jefferson Trammell are my husband's grandparents. Info we have indicates James Jefferson was born 20 June 1855 in that part of Sevier County, Arkansas that I believe later became Little River County and died 11 June 1918 in Bryan County, OK (although I don't have proof that is the county of his death). He is buried in the Bokchito Cemetary, Bokchito, Bryan County, OK. After his death, Georgia Ann lived with one of her daughters until her death 21 April 1949. I have a copy of her death certificate which shows her DOB as 31 Dec 1860 in Louisiana. She died in Childress County, TX on 21 April 1949 and was buried 23 April 1949 in the Quanah Cemetary, Quanah, Hardeman Co, TX. Her Father's name on the Certificate is shown as George Shelton, place of birth - "don't know"; her mother is listed as Carolina Mears, place of birth - "don't know". The informant on the certificate is Mrs. Z.L. North which I believe is her daughter, Zephra Lee Trammell, who was married to Samuel W. North.

I have no information at all on George Shelton, his DOB or DOD, birthplace, anything. I've been seeking info on him but thus far have found nothing.

There are listings in the census for Marvin Cemetary (located near Foreman, AR) for a Caroline Mears Belt (Mar. 10, 1844-Feb. 13, 1935); a Lorenza Belt (July 14, 1823-June 21, 1907); a James Mears (Dec. 2, 1802-Feb. 18, 1886); James William Belt (Mar. 4, 1871-July 9, 1892). Info from another family member's research indicates that Carolina Mears Belt is buried in Marvin Cemetary next to Lorenza Belt. Is it possible he may be her second husband and step-father to Georgia Ann? I have no marriage record or certificates of death for either Carolina or Lorenza so this is not substantiated.

The information in other posts re Eliza and Elizabeth Mears, sisters to Caroline, was very interesting as I had had no knowledge of other family for Caroline.

Would certainly be interested in any other information about this part of the family. Am also looking for anyone who might have a photo of James Jefferson Trammell as there appears to be no one in our immediate Trammell family that I have asked...thus far...who has one.

Cordially,

Carolyn

Caroline is actually from a fairly large family, daughter of James Mears and Mary Elizabeth Rawls. According to their daughter's censuses, George was born in Louisiana or MS. She was placed in Arkansas Confederate Home in Little Rock by her grandson Robert Pierce (I have copy of records).

Her second husband was Lorenzo Belt, of which I show 2 children, Elizabeth and James.

If you'd like more info on Caroline's parents, send me an e-mail and I'll pass on what I can.

Just in case you have not found or recd the link to the TX Death Cert:
http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#...

If it does not take you directly to the TX search then this one:
http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#

Rayedene

I appreciate your reply. Any information you care to share would be appreciated. My e-mail is: bbpctrammell@tx.rr.com. Do you know if George Shelton died and Caroline subsequently married Lorenzo Belt or if they were divorced? I have been unable thus far to find any info about George Shelton which is very frustrating!!

Thanks.

Carolyn