| 1. | Johan Martin "Martin" Shults was born 1740, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (son of Johan Velten "Valentine" Shultz and Maria Eva Stocker); died 1787, Sullivan County, Tennessee. Other Events:
Notes:
Based on the minutes of the Orphans Court for York County, Pennsylvania, Martin apparently was apprenticed to a cordwainer to learn the art of shoemaking. He completed his apprenticeship and identifies himself as a cordwainer in later court minutes.
According to the following records from York County Orphans Court Minutes dated 24 November 1761, he was appointed as the guardian for Philip Bayer, a nephew by marriage. The following transcript of this gives the story about this event:
Come into Court, Dorethea Stentz, widow of Heinrich Stentz, late of Hellam Township, yeoman, deceased, and prayed that Philip Bayer a minor orphan son of Albinus Bayer, dec'd by his wife Anna Maria one of the daughters of the said Heinrich Stentz, aged sixteen years last Ascension day, may be bound an apprentice to Martin Shultz of Hellam Township, cordwainer. It is considered by the Court and the said Philip Bayer is hereby bound an apprentice to the said Martin Shultz until he shall be of the age of twenty one years. In consideration whereof the Martin Shultz doth covenant and agree to teach or cause to be taught the said apprentice the art of mystery of a cordwainter which he now practiseth, to read the Bible, to write and arithmetic as far as the rule of three direct, and to furnish and allow the said apprentice sufficent meat, drink and apparel, washing and lodging during the said term and at the expiration therefof to pay unto him two suits of apparel one whereof shall be new and of the value of five Pounds in money which the said apprentice shall then choose.
Martin was listed on 1762 "County Census" for York County, Pennsylvania. He and Julianna were living in Hellam Township at that time. He was also listed on 1762 tax list for Hellam Township, York County, Pennsylvania. He was taxed three Shillings for his personal estate and chattels there. On 25 January 1763, he was listed again on the tax list for Hellam Township and taxed three Shillings for his personal estate and chattels too.
In York County Orphans Court Minutes dated 31 August 1763, it is found that Martin petitioned the Court to be released from guardianship of Phillip Bayer. The following transcript again gives the story of this event:
"Came into Court, Martin Shultz of Hellam Township, Shoemaker, and signified to the Court his intention of removing to Carolina and prayed the Court that Philip Bayer a minor orphan son of Albinus Bayer dec'd formerly bound to him by this Court, and praayed that the said Philip Bayer may be released from him and bound to Daniel Peterman of Windsor Township, Shoemaker. It is considered by the Court and the said Philip Bayer is hereby released from the Martin Shultz and bound an apprentice to the said Daniel Peterman until he shall be o age of twenty one years. In consideration whereof the said Daniel Peterman doth covenant and agree to the each or cause to be taught the said apprentice the art of mystery of shoemaker which he now practiseth, to read the Bible, owriteand arithmetic as far as the rule of three direct, and to furnish and allow the said apprentice sufficient meat, drink, apparel, washing and lodging during the said term and at the expiration thereof to pay unto him two Suits of
Apparel one where shall be new and of the value of five Pounds in money which the apprentice shall then choose."
After Martin made his intentions known to the Orphans Court of York County, Pennsylvania that he planned to remove to "Carolina", he began to make preparation for the long journey. Sometime during 1764 he and his family had made the journey to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. When they arrived there, they settled in the area of Killian's Creek and Leeper's Creek/Lick Run which is now the eastern part of Lincoln County, North Carolina.
The following land records in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina reveal that Martin Shultz witnessed the signing of several deeds there beginning in 1765. It appears that several of Pennsylvania families may have made the trek with Martin and Julianna Stentz Shultz.
On Monday, 4 March 1765, Martin witnessed a deed for Henry Myers and his wife Catharina in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. This land was listed on the "Southwest side of Catawba (River) above Ramsour's land."
On Monday, 20 April 1767, he again witnessed the signing of a deed for Urlick Crowder in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. This land was located on "both sides on middle branch of Killion's Creek adjoining Francis Beaty's line."
After Tryon County was created from Mecklenburg County in 1769, the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Tyron County "ordered that Martin Shults serve as Constable for Henry Holoman, Esq. and that he swear in before the said Henry Holmon" on Thursday after the first Tuesday in April 1770."
Again, the following land records in Tryon County, North Carolina reveal that Martin Shultz witnessed the signing of several deeds there. Also that he bought and sold land there. The county name changed but the location seemed to be the same, Killian's and Leeper Creek, Broad River, etc.
On Thursday, 25 January 1772, he witnessed the signing of a deed for Mathias Peterson in Tryon County, North Carolina. This was located on "the waters of Killian's Creek adjoining Philip Ereharts."
On Monday, 14 December 1772, Martin witnessed a deed for William Wilkins in Tryon County. This was located on "both sides on Beaver Dam Creek of Broad River including the said Wilkins improvements."
On Thursday, 24 December 1772, Martin Shultz bought 300 acres of land from Henry Dellinger and his wife Hannah for 10 pound Proclamation money. This land was located on "head waters of Leeper's Creek on Lick Run adjoining John Dellinger" in Tryon County, North Carolina. Henry Dellinger was another
Pennsylvania neighbor.
On Saturday, 21 June 1777, he and his wife Julianna Stentz sold this 300 acres of land on "head waters of Leeper's Creek and Lick Run adjoining John Dellinger" for 70 pounds Proclamation Money to Nicholas Shrum and Henry
Dellinger in Tryon County, North Carolina. Both he and his wife signed in the old German script.
In this deed, Martin was named as "Doctor Martin Shultz." Apparently between 176? and 1777 he had received his training as a physician and surgeon while living in Mecklenburg and Tryon Counties, North Carolina.
This deed verifies the family tradition that he was a German surgeon. In John Henninger Reagan's Memoirs, he said, "His wife (John Henninger Reagain is speaking of his grandfather, Richard Ragan.), whose maiden name was Shultz, was the daughter of a German surgeon of that name, who sered as such in our Revolutionary army during the most of the war." The notes of Claiborne County, Tennessee Shults family also stated that Martin was a doctor in the Revolutionary War.
Sometime during the Fall of 1777 or the Winter of 1778, Doctor Martin Shultz and his growing family began to make preparations for the journey to Washington County, North Carolina (not Tennessee). By the early Summer of 1778, they had made the trek, and when they arrived there, they settled "on the south side of Holston River adjoining Samuel Smith's line and John Webb's line" in Washington County.
Martin appeared on the 1779 tax list of Washington County, North Carolina (mow Tennessee with 200 acres of land, value of land - 150 Pounds, 6 horses, valued at - 650 Pounds, 6 cattles, valued at - 60 Pounds, his ready money, 60 Pounds 6 Shillings, a total value of 920 Pounds 6 Shillings. On the same tax list of said county, Edward Little entered another tract of land in Doctor Martin Shultz name - 150 acres of land, value of land - 20 Pounds.
Doctor Martin Shultz made an entry for 200 acres of land in Washington County, North Carolina (now Tennessee) on Thursday, 19 August 1779. A survey's warrant for te County Surveyor in said county was not issued until late November of that year by John Carter. After the division of Washington County in 1779, the warrant was forwarded to the County Surveyor of Sullivan County, North Caroline (now Tennessee) to be surveyed. In this land entry in Washington County, Martin is again named as "Doctor Martin Shults". This also verifies family traditions and it refutes statements of early East Tennessee historians that there were "no trained physicians" in the area in the early days.
After Sullivan County was created in late 1779, all later records of the family were found there.
The family traditions say "he was in the Battle of King's Mountain, serving under Colonels Shelby and Campbell in the dapacity of a surgeon. He attended the wounded soldiers at the battle along with the other doctors there." It was stated "gangrene had set up in many cases...many limbs had to be amputated...the army had little or no anesthesia...wiskey and manpower were used in performing the operation."
In "The Overmountain Men - Early Tennessee History 1760-1795" by Pat Alderman, Martin was listed in "An Incomplete Listing of the officers and men that participated in the King's Mountain Campaign" as a private.
Also on pages 261 and 262 of "The Bear-Guard of the Revolutions" by James R. Gilmore, it is found that:
"...A terrible night followed the terrible day of the battle. The cold was intense, and a strong wind swept across the mountain. The wounded lay around where they had fallen, upon the bare ground, among the unburied dead, with no shelter but the grey sky above them. There were no splints for their shattered limbs, nobandages for their flowing wounds, and only one surgeon among the entire two hundred and fifty. Said one who witnessed it, "The scene was heartrending in the extreme---the groans of the dying, and the constant cry o the wounded for "Water!" "Water!".
It appears that the surgeon was in Colonel John Sevier's Company of 250 men, and it is strongly believed that this surgeon was our Doctor Martin Shultz.
Another record to verify that he was a doctor was found in Sullivan County, Tennessee Deed Book 1 as follows:
"Page 150
"North Carolina Grant No. 92 to Samuel Smith, 50 Shillings per 100 acres - 250 acres in Sullivan County on the southern side of Holston River on Hickory Creek; ...on side of ridge, then on Doctor [Martin] Shoults's line; ...adjacent to John Webb's line and Weaver's line... 23 October 1782."
Also in the Washington County, Tennessee Court Minutes, an entry indicated that he was a doctor:
"Page 192
"At a Court begun and Held at the Court House on Monday the 34d day of February, 1783"
"Page 197
"Wm. Davis Garnashee at the suit of John Briant Hart vs. Benjamin Grubb being sworn Garnashee Sayeth that Benj. Grugg Left a sick Negro fellow in possession to be Cured with injuctions that Said Negro be kept in his possession Until he was paid the expence he should be at for cureing said Negro, & sayeth that he have paid to Doctor Shults twenty two pounds Eighteen Shillings in Old Trade as hard money and have Receipt for the same."
The representative of two states, John Sevier for the State of Franklin and Evan Shelby for the State of North Carolina, met and tried to reach an agreement on governing of two states at Samuel Smith's residence in Sullivan County, being at that time, the State of Franklin (now Tennessee) on Tuesday, 20 March 1787. It is probable that our Doctor Martin Shultz was a witness there. Martin and Samuel Smith were adjoining landowners. Records of the meeting are found on page 138/139 of "History of the Lost State of Franklin" by Samuel Cole Williams.
Sometime between 19 August 1779 and 9 August 1787, Stockley Donelson, the County Surveyor for Sullivan County, made a survey of a land entry on "south side of Holston River" and noted the error in the calculation of acres in this land entry. On Thursday, 9 August 1787, Martin have received the land grant from the State of North Carolina.
Dr. Martin Shultz died in "Fall of 1787", as stated in the family tradition, in Sullivan County, the State of Franklin (now Tennessee). He left a last Will and Testament in late 1787 naming his wife Juliana Shultz as Executrix, and his son David Shultz as Executor, according to the Deed Book of Sullivan County, Tennessee. But, his last Will and Testament was lost in the courthouse fire of 1863 at Blountville, Sullivan County, Tennessee. So only the following land records survive.
From North Carolina Department of State, Raleigh, North Carolina, and Sullivan County, Tennessee Deed Book Blountville, Tennessee, Dr. Martin Shultz had entered 160 acres of land and received a land grant from the state of North Carolina. It is as follows:
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA No. 440
"To all To whom these present Shall Come Greetings. Know ye that we for and in consideration of the Sum of fifty Shillings for every hundred acres hereby Granted and paid into our Treasury by Martin Shultz have Given and Granted and By these present do give and Granted unto the Said Martin Shults a tract of Land containing one hundred & Sixty acres lying and being in our county of Sullivan on the South Side of holston river adjoining Samual Smith's line
"Beginning at three white oak on the said of a ridge in Samuel Smith's line then along said Smiths North fifty five West thirty eight poles to a white oak thence along Smiths North thirty East fifty two poles to a white oak thence
North eight East forty poles to two small white oak on Webb's line thence North fifty East two hundred poles to a stake thence South thirty two West two hundred and sixty poles to a stake and thence to the Beginning as by the plat hereunto annexed
"Doth appear together with all woods waters mines minerals heredetiments and appurtenances to the said land belonging or appertaining to hold to the said Martin Shults his heirs and assigns forever yielding and paying to us Such sum of Money yearly or otherwise as our General Assembly shall from time to time shall direct provided always that the said Martin Shults Shall cause this Grant to be Registered in the Registers office of said county of Sullivan Within twelve months from the date hereof otherwise the Same Shall be void and of the effect.
"In testimony Whereof we have caused our letters to be made pattent and Great Seal hereunto affixed
"Witness Richard Caswell Esqr our Governor Captain General and command in chief at Kingston the ninth day of August in the twelfth year of our independence and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven
"By his Excellency Com
Jas Glasgow, Sec. Richard Caswell
It was registered 20th August 1789
In Sullivan County, Tennessee Deed Book 1, pages 282/283 is found:
"Martin Shults, Dec. by Executors to Nicholas Martin
"This Indenture made this tenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight by and Between Juliana Sults and David Shults, Executors of the Last Will and Testament of Martin shults Deceased and by virtue of an instrument of writing obligating on the said Marting Shults in his lifetime of the one part and Nicholas Martin of the County of Sullivan and the State of North Carolina of the other part..."
"...160 acres...on south side of the Holston River..."
"Witnesses: Her
John Vance Juliana j Shults (Seal)
jas. Martin Mark
David Shults (Seal)
"Registered August 20th 1789."
Sullivan County, Tennessee Deed Books revealed two land transactions involving Juliana shultz, wife of Dr. Martin Shultz. They are:
(1) "This Indenture made this tenth day of June one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight Between John Hall of Sullivan County, State of North Carolina of the one part and Juliana Shults of the said state and county aforesaid..."
"40 pounds...100 acres on the bank of Holston River..."
"Witnesses:
Aaron Taylor J Hall (Seal)
John Scott
"Registered December 8, 1789."
Married at Christian E. L. Church.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 6.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 3-6.
"Ownby-Watson Family History", Percival David Park, May 1985, p 32.
IGI, Batch 9101604, Sheet 10, Source Call Numbers 1553889, Film.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan," Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 401-406.
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 341.
Johan married Juliana Stentz 28 Jul 1761, Christ Lutheran Church, York, York County, Pennsylvania. Juliana (daughter of Heinrich Stentz and Maria Dorethea Bosserth) was born 1741, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; died Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried Emerts Cove Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]
Children:
- Valentine K. Shults was born 25 Aug 1762, York County, Pennsylvania; died 1845, Perry County, Alabama.
- David Shults was born Abt 1764, , Mecklenburg, North Carolina; died Abt 1834, , McNairy, Tennessee.
- Shults was born Abt 1766, , Mecklenburg, North Carolina.
- John R. Shults was born Abt 1769, , Tryon, North Carolina; died Abt 1853, , Ellis, Texas.
- Shults was born Abt 1766, , Germany.
- Jacob Shults was born Abt 1771, , Tryon, North Carolina; died 17 Mar 1834, , Claiborne, Tennessee; was buried , Claiborne, Tennessee.
- Martin S. E. Shults, Jr. was born Abt 1773, Tryon County, North Carolina; died 11 Nov 1846, Emerts Cove, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried Emerts Cove Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee.
- Julia Ann Shults was born 1775, Tryon County, North Carolina; died 23 Apr 1845, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee.
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1740 - 1787 (47 years)