Its Family Time~John M. Sellers

John M. Sellers was born abt 1810, a son of Phillip and Mary Sellers, Sr. He lived in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

It was here that he met Jerusha Ann Smith, daughter of  Rilah Smith and his wife Timmey Spencer.  John and Jerusha Ann, both age 20, were married in 1830.

To this union were borne the following children:

i. Rilah Sellers, born abt 1831, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Fanny Moore.
ii. Susannah Sellers, born abt May 1833, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Lewis T. Melton Jr.,
iii. Samuel Joseph Sellers Sr., born abt 1835, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Mary Elizabeth Hurst; died Jul 1887.
iv. William Sellers was born about 1837 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
v. Elisha Sellers was born about 1840 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
vi. Timothy Sellers was born about 1843 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
vii. John Sellers was born about 1845 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
viii. Fannie Sellers was born about 1843 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

Tragically, John M. Sellers died on 23 August 1845 when he suffocated while cleaning the family well.

This left Jerusha Ann a widow with 8 children ranging in age from Infant to age fourteen. She had no choice beyond finding another man, a protector to provide for her.

Jerusha Ann Smith Sellers married the Rev. Joel Gulledge about 1856 (exact date unknown)
.
We do know from this marriage contract dated 8 December 1855 that the marriage occurred after the execution of this document.

Partial Transcription of Marriage Contract

The State of South Carolina
Chesterfield District
 
------This agreement between Joel Gulledge, Sr., of the said District and State of the one part, Jerusha Sellers of the same District and State of the second part and Wm. A. Mulloy of the District of Chesterfield and State of South Carolina of the third part. Witnesseth that whereas a marriage is intended shortly to be solemnized between the said Joel Gulledge, Sr., and the said Jerusha Sellers and it is the wish and intention of the said parties…

Rev. Joel Gulledge died 8 May 1861. Jerusha Ann Gulledge died 13 February 1885.

John M. Sellers is my 3rd Great Grand Uncle.



______________________
1. 1830 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, , enumeration district (ED) Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 262; Line 14, Household of Jno. Sellers; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 11 August 2015); citing National Archives Microfilm M19_172.
2. 1840 U S Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, South Carolina, Page: 367; Line 25;, Household of J. M. SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 11 August 2015); citing National Archives Microfilm M740_Roll 510.
3. "Melancholy Accident.–," Accidental Death, The Charleston Courier, Charleston, SC, 28 August 1845, Page 2, Column 7, Accidental Death of John Sellers in a Well.
5. 1850 U S Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, Page: 174A(stamped); Line 7, Dwelling 1160, Family 1160, Household of Jerusha SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 11 August 2015); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.
6. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 137(stamped), Line 24, Dwelling 618, Family 617, Household of Joel GULLAGE; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 6 January 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.
7. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 137(stamped), Line 24, Dwelling 618, Family 617, Household of Joel GULLAGE.

Tombstone Tuesday~Samuel J. Sellers

Samuel J. Sellers
b. 1834

d. July 1887

bu. Hurst Cemetery

Photo Courtesy of Julious Burr

Samuel Joseph Sellers was the son of Son of John M. Sellers & Jerusha Ann Smith Sellers. Based on his age as reported in the 1880 census, age 43, he was born in 1837. Samuel J. and Mary Elizabeth (Betsy) Hurst were married about 1857. This date is calculated based on the birth of their first known child, a daughter born in February 1858.
 
Samuel and Betty had 12 known children between 1858 and 1883. On 22 February 1886, Samuel Joseph Sellers wrote and signed his Last Will and Testament. His FindAGrave memorial (#30435663) shows his death date as unknown.  

I found one document that shows his death date to be July 1887. This document, a Civil War Tombstone request, was completed 45 years after his reported death date. It may or may not be factual. I wrote about this request here:

http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2014/06/surname-saturdayheadstone-application.html











_______________________________
[1] 1880 U S Census, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, House, Chesterfield, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 005, Page: 320B(stamped); Line 39, Dwelling 184, Family 184, Household of Saml SELLARS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 9 October 2013); citing National Archives Microfilm T9-1225.
[2] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 6 June 2014); Memorial page for Samuel J. Sellers; (1834-unknown); Find a Grave memorial # 30435663, Citing Hurst Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.
[3] "Applications for Headstones for Military Veterans, 1925-1963," , Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 6 June 2014),  "Headstone Applications for Military Veterans - Samuel J. SELLERS"; National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C..