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
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