William R. “Todd” Sellers, was borne 13 Feb. 1854, the first born child of John W. Sellers and his wife Mary {Maiden Name Unknown}. John W. Sellers and Mary [LNU] were married in May 1852.
The Civil War erupted in January 1861. On 8 September 1863, after sitting out the war and caring for his family, John W. Sellers signed on with Co. "B", 31st Regiment, also known as the “O-KAY BOYS.”
But, before leaving for the war, John W. and Mary had two other children; a daughter, Mary, b. abt 1855 and and infant daughter in 1856.
John W. and Mary are enumerated in the 1860 census for Anson County, North Carolina.
1860 CENSUS: Morven, Anson County, North Carolina; Roll: M653_887; Image: 118; Family History Library Film: 803887, Page 279; Line 27, Dwelling 911, Family 876; John SELLERS, male, age 35, born in NC; Mary SELLERS, female, age 30, born in NC; Wm. SELLERS, male, age 8, born in NC; Infant [Mary] SELLERS, female, age 6, born in NC and Infant SELLERS, female, age 4, born in NC. {Spelled Sillars on Ancestry] 1
John W. Sellers did not return home to his family. John W. Sellers was “Killed in Action” during the battle of Drewery's Bluff, Virginia on 14 May 1864. 2
I have found no evidence that Mary remarried after hearing of John’s death, nor can I find her in the Censuses for 1870 or 1880. But, in 1900, Mary SELLERS, Mother, age 69, born July 1830 in NC, Widow, 3 children, 3 living is living with her only son, William R. Sellers and wife Lizzie Ratliff in Morven, Anson County, NC. 3
Then Mary [LNU] Sellers goes missing again and no other record of her life after the 1900 Census has been found by this researcher. However, I do have one minor clue that may be the report of her death. On page 206 of Emma Goodwin’s “TypeTalk of Lilesville Township Anson County, NC” the following death notice appeared from a December 28, 1905 Newspaper.
“Mrs. Polly Sellers, 80, of Lilesville Township died at her home on Tuesday Night.”
The 28th of December 1905 was a Thursday; so Polly Sellers died on 26 December 1905. Based on the birth date we have for Mary she would have been 75 years of age not 80 as stated in this death notice.4 However, based on her reported age in the 1900 Census she would have been 74 in 1905.
But is Polly and Mary one and the same person. This same newspaper shows a Mary Sellers, receiving pauper subsistence allowances and as a “widow” on the Civil War pension rolls up and including the 21 December 1905 M&I newspaper edition.
If you have information on Mary Sellers maiden name and/or when she passed away I would enjoy hearing from you. There’s an E-Mail link on the right side of this page.
John W. Sellers is my 1st Cousin 4 times removed.
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[1] 1860 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, Page 279; Line 27, Dwelling 911, Family 876, Household of John SELLERS; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 14 August 2014); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 887.
[2]"North Carolina DIGITAL ARCHIVES," NC Dept. of History & Archives, (http://mars.archives.ncdcr.gov/ : viewed 3 August 2019), Civil War Widow's Pension, "John M. Sellers," 2; MARS Id: 5.22.380.66.
[3] 1900 US Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com:accessed ); citing National Archives Microfilm T623, Roll 1181.
[4] Mrs. Polly Sellers death notice, The Messenger and Intelligencer, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, United States, 28 December 1905, Page 5, column 1.
NOTE: Name shown as John W. & John M. Sellers in various documents.
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