Michael Shively In What Is Now Monongalia County, West Virginia

A Shively researcher working on Michael Shively who lived in what is now Monongalia County, WVA is asking for additional help.  It is known that Michael Shively made a claim in 1774 for 302 acres on Scotts Mill Run which is now Monongalia County, WVA.  This land adjoined Abraham Harding.  A survey of this land was done bearing date of 17-Aug-1786 and  on 8-Jul-1788 conveyed to John Shively heir at law of Michael Shively, deceased.  On 15-Mar-1792 John Shively of Nelson County and State of Virginia (now Kentucky) sold the 302 acres to Abraham Harden (Harding) of Monongalia County, Virginia (now West Virginia).  

It is a theory not yet proven with fact that this Michael Shively may have been killed by Native American Indians in KY.  Also unproven with fact but believed is that John Shively, Michael Shively and Jacob Shively who are listed in the cabin of Richard Dean on the 2-Aug-1791 Nelson County, KY Tithable List are the sons of this Michael Shively.  Further not proven is the wife of Michael Shively was Hannah Harding.

On 24-Aug-1832 in Green County, KY Michael Shively testified that "that during the Revolutionary War he resided in Pennsylvania near the Monongahela River and that then and there he was acquainted with Thomas Harding who now resides in Green County, KY and that from what he then heard and knew during the Revolutionary War, he believed that the said Thomas Harding was employed most of his time for several years in the service of his country as a soldier and that he knows that the said Thomas Harding was absent from his place of residence most of the time for several years, and that he understood that the said Thomas Harding was engaged in the service as a soldier during his absence from the neighborhood in which he resided"....

There is much information connecting the Shively, Harden and Harding families in an account written by Jack Hardin, Jr. entitled History Of The Hardin Family in the Early Settling of Kentucky which was published by Baptist World Publishing Company, Louisville, KY in 1915.  The account tells the story of the move of fifteen families composed entirely of kindred by blood or marriage to Kentucky on two flat boats starting in March-1780. They bade farewell to their old homes and floated down the Monongahela, many of them never to see the proposed new homes. All went well until the 20-March-1780 when near the mouth of the Limestone they were furiously attacked by a large force of Indians. Having lost a number of their warriors, killed and wounded, they were infuriated to the highest degree. They killed the wife and little child of Jacob Shively." Others were also killed by for this article am focused on the Shively's.

From additional information Shively was "only related by marriage. His wife was a Harding, a cousin to my Grandmother Hardin and my mother's father, Thomas Harding". 

In May-1781 this Jacob Shively was burned at stake be the Native American Indians after he was captured during an attempt by the survivors of the 1780 attack on the flat boats to find their loved ones that had been captured.

It believed that the Jacob Shively mentioned was actually the Michael Shively who had lived in Monongalia County, WVA on Scotts Mill Run.  

Another document which connects the Green County-Taylor County, KY Michael and Jacob Shively back to a Michael Shively is found in Green County, KY Deed Book 4, Page 43 which says "Michael Shively and Jacob Shively heirs of Michael Shively deceased both of Green County, KY  do appoint William Kelso of Breckenridge County, KY to sell a certain tract of land in Fayette County, PA."  This was dated 10-Aug-1803.   No additional information could be found in Fayette County.

Please e-mail any additional information you might have to amrun@aol.com

Michael, Jacob And John Shively, Heirs At Law Of Michael Shively Taylor County, KY And Monongalia County, WVA

On the 1791 Nelson County, Kentucky Tithable List for the William Skaggs Co. which includes areas of present Green and Taylor Counties is listed the group Richard Dean, John Shively, Michael Shively and Jacob Shively.  Several researchers are working on this entry and looking for the connection of those listed. 

From the records it is known that John Shively was married on 10-October-1794 in Washington County, KY to Susanna Hayden who was the daughter of William Hayden and Susanna Buckman. On the October 1792 Nelson County, KY tax list John Shively is listed over 21 which would mean he was born before 1771. John died sometime before 1811 when a deed located in Breckendridge County, KY Deed Book C, Page 135 records "this indenture made the seventeenth day of September one thousand eight hundred and eleven between John Shepherd & Susanna Shepherd his wife, late Susannah Shively widow and relict of John Shively deceased".  

Michael Shively was married on 6-January-1797 in Washington County, KY to Nancy Payne. On the October 1792 Nelson County, KY tax list Michael Shively is listed over 21 which would mean he was born before 1771.  Nancy Payne Shively is listed on the 1850 KY Mortality Schedule and she was born 1775 died May-1850.

Jacob Shively was married 17-September-1799 in Green County, KY to Sophia Davis.  Jacob was living in 1850 and from the census information he was born about 1772.  The October 1792 Nelson County, tax list records Jacob being between the ages of 16 and 21. The will of Jacob Shively was recorded in April 1851 in the records of Taylor County, KY.

1803 Power Of Attorney

The 1803 deed to the left was recorded in Green County, KY Deed Book 4, Page 43 which lists Michael Shively and Jacob Shively heirs of Michael Shively.  The deed follows: "Know all men by these presents that we Michael Shively and Jacob Shively heirs of Michael Shively Deceased both of Green County and state of Kentucky do make constitute and appoint William Kelso of Breckenridge County and State aforesaid our True and Lawful Attorney for us and in our name to sell assign and transfer all our right and title to a certain tract of land lying and being in Fayette County and State of Pennsylvania on the waters of Georges Creek  And to do all other lawful acts for affecting the premises aforesaid Notifying and Confirming all that our said attorney shall do therein by virtue hereof.  In witness whereof we hereunto set our hands and seals this 10th day of August 1803.           his mark  Michael Shively

                                his mark Jacob Shively

Kentucky Green County      I John Barrett Deputy Clerk for James Allen Clerk of aforesaid County do hereby certify that the within Power of Attorney was acknowledged by the said Michael Shively & Jacob Shively to be there act and deed and that the same is truly recorded in my office       In Testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of my said office this 10th day of August 1803.  John Barrett

On 8-July-1788 in Monongalia County, VA Land Grant Book 4, Page 3  is recorded the following:

 "To All to Whom these Presents shall Come, Greeting:  Know Ye, That by virtue and in consideration of a certificate in right of settlement given by the Commissioners for adjusting the titles to unpatented lands in the district of Monongalia, Yohogania and Ohio and in consideration.....paid byJohn Shively into the Treasury of this Commonwealth there is granted by the Commonwealth unto the said John Shively heir at law of Michael Shively deceased a certain tract or parcel of lands containing 302 acres by survey bearing date of the 17th of August 1786 lying and being in the County of Monongalia on Scot's Millrun waters adjoining lands of Abram Harding ...his settlement made in 1774 and bounded as follows.......8th day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and 88 and of the Commonwealth the 13th

John Shively sold this 302 acres to Abraham Harden in 1792 as recorded in Monongalia County, WVA Deed Book 125, Page 178-180:   This indenture, made the 15th day of March in the year One thousand seven Hundred and Ninety-two between John Shively of Nelson County and State of Virginia of the one part and Abraham Harden of Monongalia County and State afsd of the other part.   Witnesseth that the said John Shively for and in consideration of the sum of two Hundred pounds Lawfull money of afsd State to the said John Shively in hand paid to the said Abraham Harden before the sealing and delivering of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, him the said John Shively hath granted, bargained, sold......unto the said Abraham Harden and his heirs a tract tract of land lying and being in the fast County of Monongalia, Granted to the said John Shively by a deed from under the hand of the Hon. Edmund Ranolph Esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia and bearing date of the Eighth day of July one thousand seven hundred and Eighty Eight, Three hundred and two acres of Land by survey bearing date the Seventeenth day of August One Thousand seven Hundred and Eighty Six and Bounded as follows.....

Land Plot Adjoining Land Michael Shively And Abraham Harding

The Shively DNA project has confirmed that the John, Michael and Jacob Shively lines descend from a common ancestor.  From the above historical facts it appears that the father of John, Michael and Jacob Shively was Michael Shively. Those working on this line would like the input from other reseachers who might have information regarding the Michael Shively who it appears is the father of John, Michael and Jacob Shively in Taylor County, KY.