Shearer Family Papers, 1850-1910 | Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

By Mary Beth Rogers and Chuck Hill

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Collection Overview

Title: Shearer Family Papers, 1850-1910

Extent: 1.0 Folders

Date Acquired: 05/08/2002. More info below under Accruals.

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Shearer Family Papers consists primarily of receipts for store accounts, tax payments and court fees which belonged to various members of Absalom Shearer's immediate family. There are a few letters or letter fragments and school reports but none are extensive or detailed. Also included are two family photographs and a charcoal sketch of Samuel Shearer.

Collection Historical Note

Samuel Shearer (1800-1893) was the son of Mathew Shearer. His brother Absalom Shearer married his second wife, Rachel Huguely, on 25 Nov 1856. His first wife, Susan Lorimer, had died within months of their marriage, and they had no children. Rachel was the daughter of Jacob and Florina Huguely. She was born in 1838 and died in 1878. Absalom was born in 1824 and died in 1900. Absalom and Rachel had nine children:

1.) Jacob Shearer (5 Sep 1857 - 11 Oct 1936) married Mary Elizabeth (Bessie) Huguely.

2.) Matt (Bud) Shearer (17 Sep 1859 - 13 Jul 1936).

3.) Flora Alice Shearer (23 May 1862 - 5 Mar 1952) married John B. Parrish 29 May 1883.

4.) Mollie Lee Shearer (20 Jun 1864 - 17 Feb 1952) married Daniel Stafford 4 Feb 1890.

5.) Caleb Massie Shearer (16 Jun 1867 - Nov 1941) married Leta Feland 30 Jan 1901.

6.) Willie Shearer (4 Apr 1870 - 8 Jul 1871).

7.) Maggie Shearer (15 May 1872 - 11 Sep 1873).

8.) Hallie Katherine Shearer (23 Jul 1874 - 11 May 1939) married George Prewitt 8 Jun 1899.

9.) Abby Rachel Shearer (14 Sep 1877 - 14 Mar 1965) married Marion Sappington in 1901.

Absalom Shearer married Maggie Huguely Baxter, the sister of his second wife. They had five children:

1.) Harris Shearer (2 May 1885 - 12 Sep 1959).

2.) Susan Shearer (29 Oct 1887 - 13 Jan 1916).

3.) Huguely Shearer (30 Jul 1890 - 20 Aug 1963).

4.) Mary H. Shearer (1 Feb 1893 - 16 Dec 1986) married Floyd Anderson 23 Jul 1919.

5.) Minnie H. Shearer (1 Feb 1893 - 3 Oct 1962) married W.A. Green

For extensive biographical and family history, please refer to Shearer, a family genealogy by Oliver Shearer that may be found in the EKU Archives, Special Collections (non-circulating) - CS71.S538 1991a, and the Shearer Family History File #289 located in the EKU Archives Reading Room.

Absalom was also known as Abner and in these documents his name is often abbreviated as "Ab."

Caleb was also called Caley or Cale.

Administrative Information

Repository: Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

Accruals: Folder 2 with the Cassius Clay deed and other documents was added to the collection February 20, 2017.

Acquisition Source: Shearer, Oliver

Finding Aid Revision History: Updated April 4, 2017 to add additional materials.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Folder:

[Folder 1: Receipts, Correspondence, and Legal Documents],
[Folder 2: Receipts and Legal Documents],
[Folder 3: Oliver F. Shearer Journal Typescript, 1988-1994],
[Folder 4: Photographs],
[All]

Folder 2: Receipts and Legal Documents

Barcode: 31234013924772

Item 1: Deed, 25 Sep 1834: DS Saml. Shearer. Deed from Samuel Shearer to Matthew Shearer for land on Muddy Creek.
Item 2: Deed, 6 Mar 1837: DS Cassius M. Clay and M.J. Clay. Deed for land on Muddy Creek.
Item 3: Receipt, 6 Apr 1841: DS H. Akin or H.A. Rice. Receipt from Matt Shearer for debt assessed in Police Court.
Item 4: Store Account, 1850: DS S.K. Turner, by W.W. Boyd. Store bill for Absalom Shearer for various dry goods.
Item 5: Receipt, 6 Dec 1852: DS S.S. Parkes. Tax receipt for Matthew Shearer.
Item 6: Promissory Note, 10 Nov 1854: DS A. Shearer. Promise to pay Samuel Shearer, agent for the heirs of Matthew Shearer.
Item 7: Receipt, Jan 1856: DS Thos. H. Barnes. Receipt for the payment of the recording fees for a deed from C.M. Clay and wife by Absalom Shearer.
Item 8: Receipt, 1856: DS J.H. Scholl. Receipt for payment to the Powell County Circuit Court for a copy of the petition in the case of Ruben Tucker against Simon Shearer, &c.
Item 9: Slave Receipt, 2 Feb 1857: DS Saml. Shearer. Receipt for a slave named Catharine, aged twenty-three sold to Ab. Shearer.
Item 10: Slave Receipt, 6 Jun 1858: DS Mirium Hamette and Simeon Hammitte. Receipt for the hire of a slave from the estate of Matthew Shearer by Absalom Shearer.
Item 11: Slave Receipt, 20 Feb 1863: DS Daniel Dunbar. Receipt for a 38 year old woman named Matilda, sold by Dunbar to Jesse Cobb and AB Shearer for $200.
Item 12: United States Internal Revenue, 16 Nov 1865: DS R. Armstrong. Tax bill for Ab. Shearer.
Item 13: Receipt, 2nd Feb 1867: DS D. Nat. Wilson. Receipt for the claim of Absolem Shearer for compensation and bounty for three slaves.
Item 14: Store Account, 30 Mar 1876: DS D.M. Bright. Store bill for Abb Shearer for clothing and shoes.
Item 15: Live Stock Contract, 27 May 1876: DS Ab. Shearer and A.B. Pullium. Contract to haul one car of hogs from Combs Ferry to Louisville.
Item 16: Masonic Lodge Demit, 15 Dec 1877: DS Sanford Oldham. Document allowing Absalom Shearer to demit from the Daniel Boone Lodge, N. 45.
Item 17: Receipt, 5 Jul 1878: DS J.F. Johnston. Receipt from Eastern Kentucky Lunatic Asylum for a sum paid for board of Mrs. R.J. Shearer for six months.
Item 18: Breeding Record, undated: ALS Absalum March. Certifying sire, dam and birth date of a bull named Colonel Morgan.