⚠ Originally posted in March 2000 as a chart open for debate; that status was revoked following the research of Mary Herring.
The Archive
No documentation supports Absalom having a wife prior to his relationship with Winny Herring. Before Mary Herring's research, there was a possibility that his first known child, Nancy Shiflett (who m. Robert Powell), was the issue of Absalom and a first wife, since she always used the Shiflett name while the others sometimes used Herring; but that was disproven when Mary Herring found the Albemarle deed of 3 Jan. 1860 listing Nancy's children as heirs of Louden Herring/Shiflett alongside his siblings, some already documented as children of Winny Herring and Absalom Shiflett.
Food for thought: from census records, Nancy (their first known child) was born in 1815, and two censuses put Absalom's birth between 1775 and 1780 — making him 35 to 40 at her birth. That leaves open the possibility of earlier children not living with him on the 1820 census.
There is also a connection between the Shiflets and the Dollings line, in both VA and OH. Jack, David R., and Keziah Shiflett migrated to Ohio after March 1825 and are documented there by 1829; they are strongly linked with the Dollings family and are believed to have migrated together. How these three relate to Absalom, to his brother-in-law Edward Shiflett (who m. Winney's sister, Joice Herring), or to his brother James (who m. Milly Herring) needs further investigation.
Interesting note: a Nathaniel b. bef. 1793 is listed on the Albemarle tithe lists as 'A.S.', which may stand for 'Absalom's son'.
Primary sources
marriage-consent
Marriage consent — Elizabeth Herrin to Calvin Shiflet, 1 Jan 1849 (Reel #66, Greene Co. Marriages)
To the Clerk of Greene County - This is to certify that I am willing that my Daughter Elizabeth Herrin should have license to marry Calvin Shiflet of Greene County as witnefs my hand and seal this 1th January 1849. Winny (her X mark) Herrin, Seal. Wit: Richard W Durrett. Absolum (his X mark) Shiflett, Seal.
tithe-record
Tithes & land records: Absalom Shiflett, 1805–1851
1805, 1806 tithed in Albemarle Co. (whereabouts 1806–1820 unknown). 1822 tithed in Orange Co.; 1823 acquired 10a.; 1824 tithe and land. 1825–30 not tithed in Alb. or Orange but still holds 10a. in Orange; 1826–30 Orange lists 129a. bought from Nutty Herron in 1826, plus 10a. 1831–34: 134a. in Orange taxed, resides in Alb. but not tithed there; 10a. entry gone. 1835: sold Orange land but retains 10a. 1836–37: 10a. in Orange. 1838–41: 10a. in Orange, resides in Rockingham. 1842–45: tithed in Albemarle, 2 white males, still 10a. in Orange, resides in Rockingham. 1846–47: tithed in Albemarle, gets 278 3/4a. in Alb. 1848–51: tithed in Albemarle, no land. Albemarle records end 1851.
census
1820 Orange Co., VA Census — Absalom
2 males under 5 (b. 1815-1820): Nicholas, Jacob. 1 male 26-45 (b. 1775-1794): Absalom. 2 females under 5 (b. 1815-1820): Nancy (m. R. Powell 1829), Unknown. 1 female 26-45: Winny Herring. This shows Absalom and Winny together since about 1812.
census
1830 Rockingham Co., VA Census — Absalom
1 male under 5 (may be H. Powell, son of Nancy & Robert); 1 male 5-10: Loudon; 3 males 10-15: Nicholas, Jacob, Unknown; 2 males 20-30: Unknown, Unknown (1 may be R. Powell); 1 male 50-60: Absalom. 1 female under 5: Elizabeth (m. Calvin 1849); 2 females 5-10: Melissy (m. Albert 1870), Polly (m. Stephen 1837); 3 females 10-15: Nancy (m. R. Powell 1829), Unknown, Unknown; 1 female 50-60: Winney. Absalom and Winney were still producing children as late as 1838.
census
1850 Albemarle Co., VA Census — households 414–415
414 Shiflett, Absalom 60 m; Lucy 22 f; Onor Powell 21 f (Honorius); Nancy 19 f; William 12 m; Amanda Shiflett 12 f. 415 Shifflett, Loudon 25 m; Lucinda 25 f; Araminta 4 f; Calvey (Calvin) 22 m; Elizabeth 22 f; Charles 1 m.
census
1860 Albemarle Co., VA Census — Calvin Shiflett (Fredericksville Parish, p. 126)
Calvin Shiflett W M 31; Elizabeth W F 37; C. P. W M 11; Ziwiplemi W M 10; H. B. W M 8; M.A. W F 3; C. J. W F 3/12.
census
1900 Albemarle Co., VA Census — Christena Herring (Blackwell Precinct, SD 7, ED 14, House 396)
Herring, Christena, Head, WF Jany 1865, 35, M 7 (married 7 years), 4/4 children living, farmer; Milly (unreadable), D, WF May 1873, 27, S; Mandy Lawson, D, WF Jun 1888, 21, S; Milly, D, WF May 1897, 3, S; John P, S, WM Jany 1900, 6/12; Lawson, Joseph, S, WM Feb 1870, 30, S; Shiflett, Malisa, Mother, WF Apl 1825, 75, 4/4 children living.
obituary
Obituary — Mrs. Amanda (Maggie) Catherine Lawson, 4 Dec 1958 (Waynesboro News Virginian)
Mrs. Amanda (Maggie) Catherine Lawson, 1229 North Ave., was dead on arrival at the Waynesboro Community Hospital. Born in Albemarle County, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Christine Herron Shiflett, widow of Jessie Lawson, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church. Survivors: two sons, John Lawson (Waynesboro) and Joe Lawson (Route 2, Staunton); one brother, Edward Shiflett (Port Republic); one daughter, Mrs. William M. (Mildred) Painter (Waynesboro); 22 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Interment in Riverview Cemetery.
photo
Photo caption — Elizabeth Herrin (submitted by Vertie Wade)
Elizabeth Herrin, wife of Calvin Shiflett, common-law wife of Tom Frazier.
unknown-connections
Unknown connections (to be reconciled)
Galen S. Shiflett b. abt. 1819, m. 22 Jul 1840 Albemarle Co. to Sarah Shiflett (b. abt. 1822, d/o Nathaniel and Betsy Proctor Shiflett); moved to OH by 1850. Columbia Herring b. 1836 Greene Co., m. 17 Nov 1856 to Albert Michie Shiflett (b. 1834, s/o Ahas and Ginsey Shiflett); her m. record says d/o Lucy Herring — but not the Lucy in Absalom's 1850 household (only 8 years apart). Frances Herring b. abt. 1825, m. 13 Dec 1844 Greene Co. to Solomon Shiflett (b. 1815), bondsman Galen Shiflett; moved to OH by 1850; her OH death record and two children's m. licenses say she was a Powell — could she be a missing daughter of Nancy who m. Robert Powell? And who are the parents of Ned Herring and Lucinda Herring, taken in by James and Milly Herring Shiflett?
Spellings in this chart
Names are recorded exactly as the original researcher entered them — never rewritten. The family surname appears here under
3 spellings; all are treated as the same name for search.
Shiflett 56
Shifflett 47
Shiflet 8