Is John M. Sellers and John W. Sellers the Same Individual

Is John M. Sellers and John W. Sellers the Same Individual?

I think the answer to this question is YES; but, he was married to Mary "Polly” Brooks not Mary "Polly' Diggs or Mary "Polly" Short. 

 John M. Sellers, b. 1825

John M. Sellers was born abt 1825, a son of Roland Sellers and Margaret Eddins. In April 1850, he married Mary “Polly” Brooks, a daughter of Thomas Brooks and Sarah Pratt. The date of their marriage can be found in Mary “Polly” (Brooks) Sellers Civil War Pension File, page 1.  

Mary “Polly" Brooks was born 7 July 1830 a daughter of Thomas Brooks and Sarah Pratt. Thomas Brooks and Sarah Pratt had 4 daughters namely:

i. Mary Elizabeth Brooks, born 1 Aug 1825, Anson County, North Carolina; married Jacob E. Lampley, 2 Dec 1844, NC; died 1 Jun 1852, Rockingham, Richmond, North Carolina.

ii. Mary "Polly" Brooks, born 7 Jul 1830, Anson County, North Carolina; married John M. Sellers, Apr 1850, Anson County, North Carolina; died 26 Dec 1905, Lilesville, Anson, North Carolina.

iii. Martha Ann Brooks, born 16 Aug 1830, Anson County, North Carolina; married Phillip A. Sellers, abt 1844, Anson County, North Carolina; died 27 Dec 1889, Anson County, North Carolina.

iv. Winnifred "Wincy" Brooks, born 1833; married James H. Curtis.

 

The 1886 Probate file for their Mother Sarah (Pratt) (Brooks) Sellers matches the named children above.

Probate Sarah Sellers (1886) Image 10 & 11 of 163 Item 4, Naming the heirs-at-law-- Quote"4th. That the said decedent died leaving the following heirs at law  the heirs of Elizabeth Lampley Dec's who intermarried with Jacob Lampley and was a daughter of the said decedent who died leaving the following named children, Jane Turnage who is about (image 11)  25 years old and intermarried _____________Turnage[,] Thomas Lampley who is 23 years old and Robert Lampley who is 22 years old and Elizabeth Streater who intermarried with William B. Streater and is 20 years old of whom Jane Turnage Thomas Lampley live in Arkansas and John & Robert Lampley reside in South Carolina and Elizabeth Streater reside in Ansco County. N. C. and Mary Sellers who is a daughter of the said decedent and is 41 years of age and Winnie Curtis who intermarried with James Curtis (who died) who is a daughter of said descendant and is age 39 both of Anson County.                                                                                s/P.A. SELLERS

 

By 1860 we can see that John and Mary had grown the family with the arrival of 3 children with their oldest being William [R.] Sellers, aka “Todd” who arrive in 1854.

In a 15 June 1894 Land Deed (DB 30, page 405) we find Mary (Brooks) Sellers executing a land deed to give her son William R. Sellers 28 1/2 acres of land on Jones Creek. This was most likely land from her parents estate. 

Mary Sellers to William R. Sellers {Deed}

This Indenture made and entered into this June 15th A.D.,1894 Between Mary Sellers of the State of North Carolina County of Anson party of the first part, and William R. Sellers, of the same State and County, party of the Second part. Witnesseth: That the said Mary Sellers for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which she has unto the said William R. Sellers, and for the further consideration of One Dollar the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, by these presents does give grant Alien, convey & confirm unto the said William R. Sellers and his heirs Forever all of a certain tract or parcel of land in the County of Anson, N.C. on Jones Creek and bounded as Follows.

We know from history that the Civil War engulfed the South in 1861. John M. Sellers enlisted with Company “B” 31^st Infantry on 8 September 1863. Less than a year later, he was killed on 14 May 1864. His widow, Sarah (Brooks) Sellers would draw a pension until her death on 26 December 1905.

Mrs. Polly Sellers died at her home in Lilesville township Tuesday night, aged 80 years.

The Messenger and Intelligencer, Wadesboro, North Carolina, 28 Dec. 1905, Page 5, Column 1

 

John W. Sellers, b, 1826

John W. Sellers, b. 1824 is a real mystery. His parents are unknown and not much else is known about him. He first appearance is in the Chesterfield County, South Carolina 1850 Population Census as living Chesterfield.

1850 CENSUS: Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; Roll: M432_851; Image: 290 Page: 143A; Line#41, Dwelling#691, Family#691; John W. SELLERS, Male, age 24, born in SC and Mary SELLERS, female, age 24, born in SC.

Living in close proximity to John and Mary Sellers are six Sellers Family but only one or maybe two old enough to be his parents. There is Matthew Sellers, age 32, William Sellers, age 22, Richard Sellers, age 24, James D. Sellers, age 28, Jane Sellers, age 40 and Flora Sellers age 54. I was unable to connect him to any of these six Sellers.

Compounding the research for John W. Sellers is Ancestry linkage of most of John M. Sellers links to John W. Sellers thus the copy and paste crowd has both families co-mingled.

On-Line trees show that a John Sellers, b. 1826 married Mary (Polly) Short, b. 1826. No marriage date is given. Their first born Martha Jane Sellers was born July 1851. Her death certificate shows that her father is John Sellers and that her mother is Mary Diggs marked through on DIGGS with SHORT added.      

This is all we truly know about John W. Sellers and Mary “Polly” Short. There are 98 trees on Ancestry and I believe they all contain errors and misinformation. One thing certain this John Sellers is not the son of Phillips and Mary Rebecca Sellers. John M. Sellers, son of john and Mary was born in 1810; died 23 Aug 1845 and was married to Jerusha Ann Smith.

I think it quite possible that the John W. Sellers in 1850 is in fact the John Sellers and Mary (Brooks) Sellers found on-line and the death certificate for Martha Jane Harris is still incorrect even after going through one correction. 

John M. Sellers is my 1st Cousin 4X Removed. 

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1. North Carolina, Deed Book:  DEED BOOK 15, Pages 182 & 183, Sarah & J. W. Sellars to John Pratt; Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

2. 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.

3. "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.

4. Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (https://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 3 March 2020), entry for John W. Sellers, Private; 31st_NC_Infantry; Confederate.

5. 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.

5. 1870 U S Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Lilesville, Anson, North Carolina, Page: 378A(stamped); Line 33, Dwelling 190, Family 190, Household of Mary SELLERS; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 6 August 2018); citing National Archive  Microfilm M593, Roll 1122.

7. 1880 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Lilesville, Anson, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 008, Page: 484B(stamped); Line 25, Dwelling 391, Family 400, Household of Mary SELLERS; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 6 August 2018); citing National Archives Microfilm T9, Roll 951.

8. State Archives of North Carolina .., NC Manuscript and Archives Reference System (http://mars.archives.ncdcr.gov/ : viewed 2 August 2014), digital Image of Pension Application, "Pension Bureau: Act of 1885 Pension Applications - John Sellers," MARS Id: 5.21.49.61 (Folder); Call Number: Box 6:162.

9. North Carolina, Deed Book: Deed Book 30: Deed Book 30, pages 405 & 406.

10. Mrs. Polly Sellers obituary, The Messenger and Intelligencer, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, United States, 28 December 1905, Page 5, column 1.

11. "Death Notice - Mrs. Polly Sellers," Death Notice, The Messenger and Intelligencer, Wadesboro, North Carolina,, 28 December 1905, Page 5, column 1; Digital On-Line Archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/ : viewed 3 March 2021); https://www.newspapers.com/.

12. 1850 U S Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, Page: 143A; Line#41, Dwelling#691, Family#691, Household of John W. SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2 January 2020); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.