JOSEPH ANDREW JACKSON Sheffield
Confederate Soldier


Joseph Andrew Jackson Sheffield, born in Early County, Georgia, February 3, 1837, the son of Isham R. Sheffield and Martha (Lane) Sheffield.

At the age of twenty Joseph rode horseback from Georgia to Tyler County, Texas to visit relatives. He liked Texas very much. After a long visit he returned to his home in Georgia, and in 1858 married Rebecca Elizabeth Roberts, the daughter of Charles Golightly Roberts and Mourning (Bush) Roberts. Joseph assumed the operation of his fathers mercantile business in Colquitt, Miller County, Georgia.

Joseph Andrew Jackson Sheffield enlisted in the Army of the Confederacy on May 3, 1862, from Colquitt, Miller County, Georgia. Enlistment term: three years of the war. He served with Company E. 55 Regiment, Georgia, Infantry. March 5, 1863, Joseph was discharged upon Surgeon's certificate of deafness, caused by an abscess. He was conscripted January 13, 1864, at he age of 25 years. Again "rejected on account of deafness, unfit for sentinel". On May 3, 1864, Joseph Andrew Jackson Sheffield, age 26 years, appears on a list of persons conscripted at Albany, Headquarters, 2nd Congressional District of Georgia, commanded by Lieut. E. H. Winn. Because of his deafness, Joseph was assigned to the Army Commissary Department and served in this department until the end of the war.

While Joseph was away, in the war, members of his family operated the business in Colquitt. With Confederate money now becoming worthless, and his customers in a real struggle, Joseph returned to his family farm in the southern part of Early County, Georgia.

To Joseph and Rebecca Sheffield were born fourteen children. They are as follows:

Henry Isham Sheffield b. Aug. 20, 1860, m. Sophronia Weaver
Rebecca Ella Sheffield b. May 2, 1862, m. James Flournoy Mock
Martha S. J. Sheffield b. Mar. 12, 1864, died young
Charles W. Sheffield b. Sept. 6, 1855, m. Angie Sheffield
James J. Sheffield b. Dec 17, 1866, m. Lizzie Hawthorn
John I. Sheffield b. Jan. 13, 1869, m. Ella Beasley
Madison A. Sheffield b. Feb. 20, 1871, m. Susie Belle Steagall
Mary F. V. Sheffield b. May 29, 1873, died young
Abner K. Sheffield b. Dec. 23, 1874, m. Mary Louisa Howell
Richard Wright Sheffield b. Jan. 1, 1877, m. Annie Elizabeth Hardee
Lou M. Sheffield b. May 9, 1880, died young
Cully Sheffield b. June 5, 1881, m. Leonidas Humbolt Howell
Andrew P. Sheffield b. Mar. 11, 1883, m. 1st Emma M. Roberts, 2nd Gussie M. Spotwood

In 1885 Joseph and Rebecca made the decision to sell the farm and move to Texas. In the late summer of 1885, they advertised that all of their farming equipment, syrup mill, live stock, and a few heavy pieces of furniture would be sold at public auction. On the day of the auction, friends, relatives and others came from many miles away for the sale and to bid farewell to the Sheffield's.

Their son Henry and daughter Ella and their families came to Texas with Joseph, Rebecca and the other children. They made the trip by train, via New Orleans, La. and Beaumont, Texas, arriving in Woodville, Tyler County, Texas and lived there for one year.

On Oct. 9, 1885, Joseph Andrew Jackson Sheffield purchased 900 acres of land from L. J. Jones. This tract of land was in the Thomas Tanner and William Seybold surveys with most of it lying in Jasper County, the remainder in Newton County, Texas. The Sheffield house was on the Old Belgrade Road in Jasper County, Texas.

Joseph donated land for a church and cemetery. This too, was on the Old Belgrade Road only a short distance east of his home. The church when finished was aptly called "Friendship" for the one he and Rebecca had attended in Early County, Georgia. It was for the use of every denomination. The Southeast Texas Freewill Baptist was one of the first to use the church. Joseph and Rebecca were of this faith. "Joseph was converted and united with the Freewill Baptist Church in 1874, and served 41 years as a deacon in his church".

The Friendship Community was a thickly settled area until recent years, when younger family members moved away from farming life. As each Sheffield child of Joseph and Rebecca married, they were given 50 acres of land to raise their families and farm.

Joseph Andrew Jackson Sheffield died Oct. 5, 1920. He died 4 days prior to the 45th anniversary of his beloved Friendship, purchased on Oct. 9, 1885. Joseph Andrew Jackson Sheffield and his devoted wife, Rebecca Elizabeth Roberts are buried in the Friendship Cemetery, near the town of Roganville, Jasper County, Texas.

Records and References used:

1850 Census, Early County, Georgia
Marriage Record Book, No. 1, p. 39, Book 2, p. 19, County Court, Early County, Georgia
1856 Census, Miller County, Georgia
General Services Administration, Washington, D.C.
Joseph and Rebecca's Bible
The late (Mrs. Bryant) Addie Tiner Mock, Blakely, Early County, Georgia
Deed Book "Q", p. 167, Jasper County Court, Jasper, Texas
Deed Book "U", p. 620 Jasper County Court, Jasper, Texas
Obituary--Kirbyville Banner, Oct. 20, 1920 Kirbyville, Texas

Biography by: Lou Ella Sheffield Prewitt
Edited and Transcribed by: Timothy Allen Jeter

Photographs

   

Joseph Andrew Jackson Sheffield and His wife Rebecca Roberts
Joseph Andrew Jackson Sheffield and wife Rebecca Roberts

   
         
    Joseph Andrew Jackson Sheffield and his Family    
   

Top Row L to R in order of birth
Alfus Mock (standing in for Abner Sheffield), Richard Wright Sheffield, Paul Sheffield & Pete Sheffield

Second Row L to R in order of birth
Henry Sheffield, Charlie Sheffield, Jim Sheffield, John Sheffield & Madison (Babe) Sheffield

Sitting L to R
Ella "Sheffield" Mock, J. A. J. Sheffield, Rebecca "Roberts" Sheffield & Cullie "Sheffield" Howell
 

   
   

Joseph Andrew Jackson Sheffield's Sons
"The Sons"

   

Do you have Sheffield Roots or connections?
If so you may want to Join this Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sheffieldfamilyhistory/

July 03, 2005

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