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Person Info

• Name: William SHANNON
• Sex: M
• Birth: Abt 1740 in Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania ^b
• Death: 5 Jul 1794 in Shelbyville, Shelby Co, Kentucky ^d


Parents:

• Father:
  
• John SHANNON Birth: Abt 1715 in Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania Death: 1766 in Sadsbury Twp, Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania
Mother:

• Sarah REID Birth: 1721 Death: Apr 1810 in East Finley Twp, Washington Co, Pennsylvania

Family:
Bibliography

Sources for birth and parent Information

date:

1740 [Ref: Carolyn Genzel 2/6/2003]

abt 1740 [Ref: Craig BYERS p66, Dedman SHANNON p2, Eagleson BYERS p64, ShannonD SHANNON p13],

place:

[Ref: Craig AmAncestrySupp3 p80, Craig BYERS p66, Eagleson BYERS p64, ShannonD SHANNON p13],

parents:

[Ref: Bell SHANNON, BrackenHB BRACKEN p89, Craig AmAncestrySupp3 p80, Craig BYERS p66, Dedman SHANNON p2, Eagleson BYERS p64, ShannonD SHANNON p13]

Sources with Inaccurate birth and parent Information

date:

1752 [Ref: Bell 101Fam p67, Bell SHANNON, Craig AmAncestrySupp3 p80]

Sources for death Information

date:

[Ref: Bell 101Fam p67, Bell SHANNON, Craig AmAncestrySupp3 p80, Craig BYERS p66, Eagleson BYERS p64, ShannonD SHANNON p13]

1794 [Ref: Dedman SHANNON p2],

place:

[Ref: Carolyn Genzel 2/6/2003]

Shelby Co, Kentucky [Ref: Bell 101Fam p67, Bell SHANNON, Craig AmAncestrySupp3 p80, Dedman SHANNON p2, Eagleson BYERS p64, ShannonD SHANNON p13]

Research Notes:
1758: appears on a roster of the militia of Augusta Co, VA [Ref: ShannonD SHANNON p13]

There is reason to believe he was in Braddock's Expedition against Fort Duquesne [Ref: ShannonD SHANNON p13]

appears in records of War Dept as Ensign and Lieutenant in Capt William Lewis' Company of the First Virginia Regiment. The Company payrolls carry his name until Nov 30 1777. [Ref: ShannonD SHANNON p13]

Apr 18 1778: bought land for 400 pounds money in Yohagania Co, VA (which was later Washington Co, PA) [Ref: Craig AmAncestrySupp3 p83]

land is in what is now Mount Pleasant Twp, Washington Co [Ref: Bell SHANNON]

Jun 24 1778: at Louisville, KY [Ref: Bell SHANNON]

Jul 4 1778: at Kaskaskia [Ref: Bell SHANNON]

Oct 13 1778: sold land in Pennsylvania [Ref: Bell SHANNON]
sold land in Pennsylvania for 560 pounds [Ref: Craig AmAncestrySupp3 p83]

Bought land in Washington Co in Apr 1778, and sold it on Oct 13 1778. In the interim he was a member of the armed forces of General George Rogers Clark that went down the Ohio River to capture the settlement of Kaskaskia on the east bank of the Mississippi River opposite St. Genevieve, Missouri. The oldest white settlement in the Mississippi Valley, Kaskaskia was of strategic importance and was capture in a night attack by Clarks force of 200 men on Jul 4 1778 during the Revolutionary War. Shannon had explored in Kentucky as early as 1776, and had become acquainted with Clark, a Virginian. [Ref: Craig AmAncestrySupp3 p81]

late 1778: Muster at Fort Pitt [Ref: Bell SHANNON]

Later in 1778, Clark was authorized by Virginia to organize a body of troops to go down the Ohio River again and conquer, if possible, the entire "Illinois Country," which included the now states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The troops were mustered-in at Ft. Pitt (now Pittsburgh, Pa) in late 1778 and departed in 1779. Clark chose William Shannon, a Captain, to be Commissary and Quartermaster General. Itwas Shannon's duty to keep the troops supplied with all that was needed. Shannon managed to do this against great adversity. Certainly, part of the credit for the American victories against the British and their Indian allies goes to Shannon. [Ref: Craig AmAncestrySupp3 p81]

Feb 14 1779: at Vincesses [Ref: Bell SHANNON]

On one occasion, Shannon and his flotilla of keelboats, flatboats and conoes carrying supplies were captured going up the Wabash River by Indians. Fortunately, Clark captured Vincennes the next day and liberated the Americans. On at least one more occasion, Shannon and a party of 80 men were descending the Ohio when they were captured by Indians following a fight in which several of the Americans were killed. Shannon and the others were started on the trek to Detroit, a British stronghold. Enroute, Shannon and several others managed to escape. [Ref: Craig AmAncestrySupp3 p81]

Shannon continued to serve General Clark all through the years of the western campaigns as Quartermaster General of the Western Department. Interesting data concerning William Shannon is in the DRAPER Manuscript Collection, and in records at the Virginia State Library & Archives in Richmond. [Ref: Craig AmAncestrySupp3 p81]

May-Jun 1781: With Clark in Yohogania Co, VA [Ref: Bell SHANNON]

Following the end of the Revolutionary War, the State of Virginia was very slow and negligent in paying William Shannon and many other of the Patriots, including General Clark. William's regular pay was several years in arrears, and no reimbursement had been to him for his private funds which he had spend on supplies for the troops. This dragged on for years, Virginia using every excuse it could to delay payments. Finally, in one last effort, William was enroute from his home in Kentucky to Richmond, Virginia to press again for payment when his horse fell causing William's leg to be broken. This was in the wilderness of the frontier. Unable to proceed farther until his broken leg healed, William forwarded by personal messenger his papers and letters on to Richmond. Apparently, Virginia never did fully pay what was due to him, or to General Clark and many others. [Ref: Craig AmAncestrySupp3 p87]

Petition of Captain William Shannon, re: 1779 activities as appointed Commissary and Quartermaster to the Illinois, Western District Department, under the command of General Clarke. He broke his leg at Crow's Station. Leg was so broken that he was unable to proceed on his journey. Sworn to by James Moore [Ref: ShannonD SHANNON p15]

1782: probably entered Kentucky with a surveying party, as an engineer [Ref: BrackenHB BRACKEN p91]

1787: He took up a large tract of land, 200,000 acres it is said, which he received from VA as a military land grant while Patric Henry was governor. This grand is dated 1787, although it is known that Shannon was in KY in 1785. [Ref: BrackenHB BRACKEN p91]

became a large land-holder in KY, partly fro mthe receipt of a land grant from Governor Patric Henry of Virginia. [Ref: ShannonD SHANNON p13]

After the war, Shannon lived in Jefferson Co, KY/VA and represented this county in the general Assembly of Virginia. After the State of Kentucky was created, he lived in Shelby Co and represented this county in the General Assembly of Kentucky. Shannon was able to accumulate tens of thousands of acres of land in Kentucky and was considered one of the largest landowners there. [Ref: Craig AmAncestrySupp3 p82]

Oct 15 1792: He gave 50 acres for town lots in Shelbyville and one acre for public buildings. This offer he made on the second day of the first term of Court, Oct 15 1792. It was accepted by members of the court. This 50 acres was part of the tract which William Shannon afterwards bequeathed to his niece, Sarah Shannon, daughter of his brother, Thomas Shannon, and his nephew, John Shannon, son of his brother, Samuel Shannon and Martha Bracken. [Ref: BrackenHB BRACKEN p91]

Sep 22 1793: signed his Last Will and Testament in Shelby County. [Ref: Craig BYERS p18, ShannonD SHANNON p14]

His was the first Will recorded in the Record Books of Shelby County. [Ref: Craig AmAncestrySupp3 p81-82]

He had raised a company of troops and planned to go with General "Mad Anthony" Wayne in 1794 against the Indians. Though the Revolutionary War had been over a number of years, the Indians, encouraged by the British, who provided weapons and supplies, continued to cross the Ohio River and raid settlements in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, (West) Virginia, and wlsewhere. The campaign in 1794 by General Wayne culminated in a great and total victory for the Americans at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in what is now the State of Ohio. Shannon did not get to go with the troops. Not long before the departure date, he became involved in a fight and killed the other man with a knife. During the struggle, his opponent struct Shannon a hard blow in the head with a rock. From the effects of this, Shannon died a few days later. [Ref: Craig AmAncestrySupp3 p82]

He was preparing to go as an officer with Wayne on his expedition against the Indians in Ohio in 1794, when he came to his death at the hands of John Felty. It appears that there were ill feelings between the two men and it had finally been settled and Felty invited William Shannon to his house in Shelbyville, KY, for dinner. William accepted and was eating dinner when Felty's wife said something that started the quarrel again. Shannon said he would not eat in this house where people quarreled and rose from the table, left the house and was crossing the street when someone shouted to him to look out, that Felty was about to throw a stone at him. Shannon turned about, saw Felty, and he threw a dirk at Felty, striking him and killing him. The stone that Felty threw struct Shannon and he died the next day. This was in July 1794. [Ref: BrackenHB BRACKEN p91]

a political quarrel and duel on the square killed him and his opponent [Ref: Dedman SHANNON p2]

Will dated Sep 22 1793, First Will Book, First Will, Shelby Co, KY [Ref: Eagleson BYERS p64]

WILL OF WILLIAM SHANNON OF SHELBY COUNTY KENTUCKY
I William Shannon of Shelby County in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, being in full health of body and of perfect mind and memory do make and ordain this instrument in writing to be my last will and testament in manner and form following. That is to say I recommend my soul to God who gave it to me and my body to be buried in a decent Christian like manner at the descretion of my executors herafter named and as to my worldly goods with which it hath been pleased God to bless me with and dispose of the same in manner and form following(Viz)
Item, I will that after the lease that John Braket has from me for the farm on which he lives that the said farm shall be rented out on the best terms that can be had and the neate (net?) proceeds thereof I give unto Sarah Shannon my mother for her use and particular ??? during her natural life.
Item, I give unto Margaret Byers and her heirs forever two hundred acres of land being one half or moiety of four hundred acres of land situated on Mulberry Creek in said County of Shelby it being the tract of land I purchased from James Beatey to be taken off the North end thereof by a line running through the center of said survey east and west unto the said Margaret my sister and her heirs forever as afour said.
Item, I give unto my sister Ann Brakin two hundred acres of land unto her and her heirs forever situated lying and being on the head waters of Drinings Lick Creek in the said County being part of a fifteen hundred and nineteen acre patent for so much to be laid out in a convenient manner at the descretion of my executors adjoining Aaron Thorn and the land I sold to John ????
Item, I give to William son to my brother Thomas Shannon five hundred acres of land being the one half of a preemption of one thousand acres granted to James Hanna the other belonging to Jacob Newlin except his obligation to ???? three hundred acres thereof to me and my heirs situated at the forks of the Drinnins Lick Creek in the said county of Shelby.
Item, I give unto Sarah Shannon, daughter to my brother Thomas Shannon all that part of the tract of land on which the Town of Shelbyville is erected that lies South of a line to be run East from the North East corner of the Town. Lands across said tract the same being that part of said tract that adjoins the town. Lands on the East and South to her and her heirs forever.
Item, I give and bequith unto John Shannon son of my brother Samuel Shannon all that part and residue of the tract of land containing seven hundred acres on which the Town of Shelbyville is errected besides which I bequeathed to nease Sarah Shannon that lies North of the said Town of Shelbyville and North of a line to run East from the North East corner of the said Town lands across the said tract of seven hundred acres as afour said unto him and his heirs forever after the decease of my said mother Sarah Shannon.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my friend David Standeford the present Sheriff of the said county of Shelby my half or one moiety of all lands in which we are jointly concerned with patented or otherwise to him and his heirs forever.
Item, all the rest and residue of my estate both real and personal after my just debts and funeral expenses are paid I give and bequeath unto my brother Samuel Shannon now inhabitant of the said county of Shelby to him and his heirs forever.
I do hereby ordain constitute and appoint my trusty and beloved friends Samuel Shannon of Shelby County in the Commonwealth afour said and David Standeford of the said county of Shelby my executors of this my last will and testament. In testamony where over I have to those present set my hand and affexed my seal this twenty second day of September in the year or our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and ninety three.
signed: Wm Shannon
Witnesses: Dorsey Penticost, William Addams, Joseph Winlock Shelby County May Court 1794
This last will and testament of William Shannon deceased was produced in court and proved to be the act and deed of the said William Shannon by oaths of Dorsex Penticost and William Addams and ordered to ve duly recorded. [Ref: Reid REID-SHANNON p6]



Pedigree of William SHANNON
                                     /-----John SHANNON
                            /-----John SHANNON
                   /-----Robert SHANNON
          /-----Thomas SHANNON
         |         \-----Annal (SHANNON)
 /-----John SHANNON
|         \-----Agnes (SHANNON)
William SHANNON
|                  /-----Thomas REID
|         /-----John Col REID
|        |         \-----Mary McKEAN
 \-----Sarah REID
          \-----Jane STUART



Descendants of William SHANNON