Untitled Document

JOHN'S PAGE
John B. Sellers [johnbsellers@comcast.net]

JOHN BLAKEMORE SELLERS

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Nov 2006
Thomas Galen Sellers
Steve Smith
Dave Johnston

Sorry that I have been out of touch with you for a while. Lately, following the discovery of my DNA match with Galen Sellers from South Carolina, I have been talking to him a bit. He is related to Benjamin Sellers, Jr. (Rev.), brother of Matthew Sellers (born 1743, married Ann Corbett). He would be interested in participating in some form of reunion of the Sellers, my family included. With the 400th year anniversary of Jamestown coming up next year, would it provide an opportunity for us to get together? Or some other time in the near future? John Blakemore Sellers
John B. Sellers [johnbsellers@comcast.net]

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The painting of Matthew B. Sellers, was done by Thomas Sulley, when Matthew was in his 20s

MATHEW BACON SELLERS 1800/1880

Copy of woodcut print of the Matthew B. Sellers "Oakland Plantation" under occupation of General McPherson's troops, while digging the canal and preparing for the Battle of Vicksburg. The plantation house is off to the right in the print. I can obtain originals circa 1880 for a small fee.

The only known photograph of the Matthew B. Sellers "Oakland Plantation" with Matthew, his mother Ann Corbett, and sister Salome, barely visible in the photograph. They didnt know that the Union troops would be occupying the property a year later in 1861.

=================

DEC 2005

Marie:

My name is John Blakemore Sellers, great grandson of Matthew Bacon Sellers I, of Lake Providence, Louisiana, grandson of Matthew Bacon Sellers II of Baltimore, Maryland, and son of John Clark Sellers.

I have, for the last two years have been assembling the family lineage, going back up the Sellers, Cash, Blakemore, Lewis, Punchard lines.

Information between yourself and Carlah Chapman has been very important to me and has led me in the right direction.

In past notes to to you from Carlah, she had mentioned scanning the Hartwell family bible. Was she able to accomplish the task? If so, is it available for use in expanding my collection? I do not know how to reach her.

I have obtained information showing my part of the Sellers line going back to the Jamestown settlement with William Sellers, Sr. Any assistance regarding the family bible would be great.

Your response to this inquiry will be met with great enthusiasm.

Cousin? John

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JOHN, Very glad to hear from you. We have just discussed this family and your cousins will appreciate your sharing.

Please Send info on your JOHN CLARK SELLERS born when/where
married when/where
kids names
where died.

Please Send/Advise if you have ANY DOCUMENTS on this family Proving ANY relation.
WE need all documents .

We trying to Share documents on Each child of Mathew Sellers 1743/1807 Livingston Co., KY

NO, we never rec'd copy of Bible Pages from Carlah .
We Appreciate Bible Info, But, ALL BIBLE info must be checked out. esp older bibles.
I believe she may have family that can be contacted. Seems I tried once and no answer. But, may be able to now. Try and Advise.

The info she sent from Bible connects Drury Sellers 1781/1853 to Mathew Sellers and Ann Corbett.

I can't Prove Drury Sellers 1781 to this family in Warren Co., Tn = It appears to be a diff SELLERS family.
An older JOHN and ARCHIBALD SELLERS are here.

Please send us your family chart and our SELLERS will share and help along the line.
marie, iowa

Marie:

My grandfather Matthew B. Sellers II, who lived in Baltimore, MD, the family had a summer home/property in Grahn, Elliott Co., KY. As an aviation pioneer at the turn of the 20th century, he resided on a temporary basis in Georgia so that he could fly his experimental aircraft there. His mother mentioned in the listing has her name mispelled , who was with him then, Annie Lewis Sellers. Matthew was born in 1869. In 1910 he was 2 years into flying his experimental aircraft and would have been in Georgia at that time.

Matthew Bacon Sellers II
b: 1869, Baltimore, MD
d: 1932, Ardsley on Hudson, NY

Father: Matthew Bacon Sellers I. b. 1800 d. 1880
Mother: Angelina "Annie" Lewis Sellers, b. 1842 d. 1913
Brother: Samuel, b.1874 d. 1954
Brother: Harvey, b.1873 d. 1891
Sister: Ann, b. 1879 d. 1953

Family is buried at the Louden Park Cemetery in Baltimore. Matthew II was cremated and buried in the back yard at Ardsley on Hudson, NY.

m. Ethel Clark 1918, New York City, NY

Children:

Matthew Bacon Sellers III.
John Clark Selllers

Regards,

John B. Sellers
John B. Sellers [johnbsellers@comcast.net]

===============

JOHN, thank you,
YOU named after the home in KY?
Where did that name come from?

I am going to try and insert some questions to your info below that I need .
Help where you can.
ALSO, do you have obits on these families? we need that info.

ANY corrections to our/my info, Needed .
and thank you for sharing SELLERS.

marie, iowa

-----Original Message-----
From: John B. Sellers [mailto:johnbsellers@comcast.net]
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2005 5:24 PM
To: marie sellers hollinger
Subject: Re: [SELLERS] Matthew Bacon Sellers Jr.

Marie:

My grandfather Matthew B. Sellers II, who lived in Baltimore, MD, the family had a summer home/property in Grahn, Elliott Co., KY. As an aviation pioneer at the turn of the 20th century, he resided on a temporary basis in Georgia so that he could fly his experimental aircraft there. His mother mentioned in the listing has her name mispelled , who was with him then, Annie Lewis Sellers. ( what about the Annie Leathers Lewis name = give me/us her Full name and particulars)
Matthew was born in 1869. In 1910 he was 2 years into flying his experimental aircraft and would have been in Georgia at that time.

Matthew Bacon Sellers II
b: 1869, Baltimore, MD
d: 1932, Ardsley on Hudson, NY

Father: Matthew Bacon Sellers I. b. 1800 d. 1880 (where did we die/buried?)
Mother: Angelina "Annie" Lewis Sellers, b. 1842 d. 1913 ( where did we die/buried?)
Brother: Samuel, b.1874 d. 1954 (where? and did we marry? who and kids =)
Brother: Harvey, b.1873 d. 1891 (where? and did we marry? who and kids=)
Sister: Ann, b. 1879 d. 1953 (where? did we marry? who, etc)

Family is buried at the Louden Park Cemetery in Baltimore. Matthew II was cremated and buried in the back yard at Ardsley on Hudson, NY.
(YOU may mean all above buried here?, confirm)

m. Ethel Clark 1918, New York City, NY (so she was a CLARK, dau of ??) and her mother remarried a Hoffman??) OR who were her parents?

Children:

Matthew Bacon Sellers III. (is he still living?)
John Clark Selllers

Regards,

John B. Sellers

==================

Thanks for the forwarding of the Obit. information from Dave Johnston, regarding my Great Grandfather, Matthew B. Sellers (1800-1880). I hope that I can be in line to get a copy of the will when Dave does get a copy of it.

Of note: I have a copy of the death certificate of MBS and his 2nd wife Annie. I would be glad to pass them along. I have spoken with a representative at Loudon Park Cemetery about having them take pictures of the family plot for me, but they said only family members could. As it stands now, it is on my list of thing to take care of.

I have been in contact with the Woodland Cemetery in Philadelphia, where MBS wife #1, Elizabeth Cash, is buried in their family plot. They took pictures for me of the EC headstone and of the family headstones.

I obtained a post civil war engraving of General McPherson's union troops encamped at MBS plantaion in Lake Providence, LA, and can obtain more original copies (c. 1880s) and pass along.

I have had tin portraits copied and enlarged, of Annie Lewis Sellers, and her parents. I have a copy of the Thomas Sully portrait of MBS.

I plan in the near future to visit the old plantation property in Lake Providence, LA, where MBS's mother and sister are buried together.

DNA test? What existing DNA information have we accumulated thusfar. I would be willing to contribute to the data bank.

Please forward this information on to Dave.

Keep in touch distant Cousin(?) and Thanks,

John Blakemore Sellers

=========

John,

I agree that the desencent from Quaker Sellers in Darby, PA, maybe flawed/incorrect. I agree that the legal record of deeds, wills, etc. seems to lead to Southside, Virginia. I think that is why the DNA study is so important. Since the Y-chromosome passes unchanged from father to son, except for some rare-but-known mutation rate, it can help us know for sure.

Is there a painting or portrait of the plantation master, your great grandfather, Matthew Bacon Sellers I which still exists? Since he didn't died until 1880 I expect there may have been/may be tintypes of the family in the 1870s in Baltimore. I like the idea of you trying to contact Tracy rather than one of us "outsiders." The decision to call your dad when I was in Chicago was made more difficult knowing that your branch of the family had continued to prosper and that I might be viewed as someone after something other than pure information on the family - the family record if you wish. I am so glad you are assisting us with this. I suppose you to be of my generation, that is born after WWII (1945 - 1960), am I correct? I know your line of Sellers has a penchant for waiting until they are mid-40 to 70s to start families, but you mentioned in your email that your dad is enjoying his great grandchildren which forced me to conclude your dad may have been a bit more conventional, not waiting until his 70s to start a family!

Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: John B. Sellers
To: Dave Johnston
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2006 5:54 AM
Subject: Re: Thanks for the docs

Dave:

I am not sure that Marie got the copies of the documents, as I received and email indicating that there was a problem in the transmission of the email. It was about 7.5MB in size, that is probably why.

I have the original manuscript of Matthew B. Sellers, providing his account of the family history. He believes he is decendend from 3 or 4 Samuels, originating from Pennsylvannia and Darby, England. I am trying to show that our family line originates from William Sellers. Sr.

Hard to believe that Matthew B. Sellers was born in Padducah, KY in 1800, near the tip of Illinois, and of course, his older sister born even earlier.

I hope you have success in retrieving a copy of Matthew's will.

I will be sending along pictures of the family, hopefully this weekend. I need to talk with Wendy and Tracy and get details on their families, and send along to you accordingly. Wendy has some pictures of Matthew taken before he died in 1880. I am still trying to get copies from her.

John

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JOHN, handsome , well preserved photo. Now, this is Mathew Bacon Sellers 1800/1880? Precious!

I must have missed some letters this last week. I will go back thro and see if I deleted or just didn't get sent to me and let you know what I need.

The Steve Smith, I am cc this to, connects to MBS 1743, son John ca 1780 that went to Warren Co., MS. He has shared several
documents with us.
http://www.sellers-sellars-sollars-zellars.net/stevesmith.htm
When Dave and I were corresponding, I thought I sent him a cc. Anyway, someone's letter was returned and it MAY be this address, so if I get it returned, I'll try and advise and mark same on his page. If not, great. He will appreciate and share.

The HARTMAN bible is discussed = (no, I don't remember you asking before, so this is probably a letter I missed)

http://www.sellers-sellars-sollars-zellars.net/carlah.htm

As you can tell, I have some doubts that have never been proven. And Carlah became ill and we haven't heard from her family.

I believe they have connected the wrong family. (we are all entitled to our own belief)

My original SELLERS handed down info , I don't believe is correct either. Some of our Sellers relation had No other info/documents to help them prove lines. and I still don't have much!
But, some Sellers lines we do and should collect and share that info till we connect another line.

Our NC documents prove a lot on these families. If you don't have links, will send. You just have to follow the VA links down to NC, etc and help prove Same!
http://www.sellers-sellars-sollars-zellars.net/vaisle.htm

NO WHERE in these documents is Benjamin Sellers referred to as WILLIAM!

But, I do believe we have the VA/NC pretty well documented. Just need to connect correct families.

IF Dad is 85 and has his own beliefs, tread carefully and don't upset. Some of the Older generation is very strong willed and don't need 'shook up' now.
Some of our Younger Sellers are too! Bet some wives would agree with me also! Plus my husband.

I think it is so Great for you to be interested in family history at your young ages.

best wishes, marie, iowa

=========

Marie:

OK, now I know of two relatives related to my great grandfather, Dave Johnston to my great grandfather's sister Ann, and Steve Smith to my great grandfather's brother John.

In a general sense, from North Carolina to Kentucky, and from Paducah, Kentucky, the Sellers family went south to Mississippi after their father Matthew died in about 1806, Matthew's brother John settled in Warren County (Vicksburg?), Mississippi, while Matthew, mother Ann Corbett, and sister Salome after a stay in Mississippi went across the Mississippi River to Lake Providence, Louisiana. That's my take of the migration. Ann Corbett died in around 1828, and is buried at Lake Providence with Salome.

I think that the DNA's may be a means to confirm the Sellers line back to William Sr. Perhaps getting the DNA from right descendants listed in Opal Spencer's book on William Sellers may work. Would be an alternative way to documentt the Sellers line back, to go along with all the other documentation available.

John

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Dave:

My Dad is not convinced that our Sellers line comes from Virginia/North Carolina, as his brother Matt for some time believed they were from Pennsylvania. Matt later believed and was excited of the southern connection.

The painting of Matthew B. Sellers, was done by Thomas Sulley, when Matthew was in his 20s. At a time when Louisiana was being created. I am providing you a copy of the painting that I touched up, to rid some damage to the painting, and make it more visible.

Any news on the Hartwell family bible? I last asked Marie the question a while back.

My Dad was conventional when it came to having children. Three daughters and me. I am the third born, in 1956. I havn't married or had children yet. The word is out on the street that a Sellers is out there needing to carry on the family name. My three sisters have each been married, the oldest sister Robin, married three times, next oldest sister Annabel, married two times, and Barbara, married one and divorced. I am feeling that the time is coming for me to marry and enjoy raising a family.

John
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From: Dave Johnston
To: John B. Sellers
Cc: Marie Sellers Hollinger
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2006 7:50 AM
Subject: Re: Thanks for the docs

=============
----- Original Message -----
From: Dave Johnston
To: John B Sellers
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2006 12:20 AM
Subject: Thanks for the docs

John,

Thanks for the documents. A Sellers reunion of sorts sounds like fun, but my wife doesn't like Texans either, and I have many Texas relatives. I was nearly a Texan myself. My parents met in Texas but married in Los Angeles after WWII. I was born in 1950 in Artesia, CA, not far from Norwalk, where I grew up and my father still resides.

Sorry to hear you lost your mother. Mine died in 1993. I'll still miss her and guess I always will. It sounds like you dad moved back to Chicago after your mother died, not exactly thrilled to be returning to the windy city. He must have family there from your remarks regarding great grandchildren. I can understand why he might prefer Corona del Mar.

Do you have a copy of the handwritten genealogy that your great grandfather prepared? If not, I'll see you get a copy.

Thanks again for anything and everything you post.

Dave Johnston
Self-appointed family historian/genealogist and archivist
To forget one's ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root -- Chinese Proverb--

=========

Marie:

As must have book. My uncle Matthew B. Sellers knew the author, who is a descendant. The Book is called:

"Descendants of William sellers, Sr. of Isle of Wight, Virginia, 1657". Has 13 generations of Sellers. We are in the book. Book published March 2000 and is 225 pages.
Book costs $30.00 includes shipping.

Mrs. Opal Freer Spencer
1811 NE 41st Street
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308-5537

John

---- Original Message -----
From: marie sellers hollinger
To: 'John B. Sellers'
Cc: 'Dave Johnston' ; marie sellers hollinger
Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2006 2:46 AM
Subject: RE: Thanks for the docs

JOHN, thanks,
IF you want to get my attention, Tell me something I don't know =
Opal Spencer's book on William Sellers

Haven't read and have NO info.
ALL documents must be studied . Will read, please send info.

YES, dna will help, it is Not the Total answer, but, will help and prove lines here.

I have Not rec'd a return from SteveSmith, so maybe good address. I will forward when/if rec'd.
I have a couple old address on a couple girls . You may have, if you have Salome info.

We did Not have Salome's death/burial place. thanks.

Please send above WILLIAM SELLERS info of Opal Spencer.

Thanks for understanding on sharing SELLERS.
marie, iowa

====

JOHN B. , thanks. can't believe I don't have or remember this book!
A few years ago we collected many documents on isle of wight and counties connecting. From memory, we could only Prove one son and not his kids. But, it all helps get us closer.
Assuming is one thing, Proving is another.

Thanks,
marie, iowa

Marie:

Regarding the Freer connection. Her relationship to the Sellers family is through the decscendants in Florida. She is of the newer generation. The book goes into greater detail of all of their relatives. As I mentioned before, my uncle Matthew purchased this book and provifed some of the information to Opal. He then put less belief on the Pennsylvannia connection and more on the Jamestown connection probably after seeing her book.

John

Marie:

Should be interesting to see what information Opal has on your family line. I am sure you will find some valuable information from the book. On page 35 of the book appears the mention of Willets Daniel Sellers., Rev. You should check out page 163 also. Photocopy of Willets Daniel Sellers birth, marriage, and death record.

When I refer to my uncle Matt, it is the Matthew that recently died, was President of the SAR, and had been our family historian. His contributions to Opal was to confirm and help Opal lay out our family-specific line going back to William Sr.

John

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JOHN, I love this Print/drawing of Oakland. don't know why. Just the feeling.

Plantation Home is lovely. Built when? tax list may help.

NOW, who did the naming of the people in this picture? = OR maybe we should Recheck the Date. = a year later means 1860 date? and Ann Corbett and dau Salome would't be alive??? =

And house may Not be built in 1827? please check it out and advise.

Please understand my questions. The year of picture is important and the whole answer.

thank you so much for sharing. You are so fortunate .
marie, iowa

================

John,

Thanks again. BEAUTIFUL photos! I have never seen a pre-civil war photo on anyone in the family. WONDERFUL!

My records indicate that Ann Sellers, Matthew's mother died in 1828 and that Salome Sellers Travis died, according to two LDS Church IGI enteries in 1837. I'll have to dig into my files. Mary M. Beadles of Dallas, TX, wrote a book on the Travis family some years back. I don't recall what date she may have given, if any, for Salolme's death. Ann Corbett Galloway was b. ca. 1750. So is she were still alive in 1860 would be over 100. It was Ms. Beadles that sent me a copy of the Matthew Bacon Sellers Genealogy in his own hand. This is the history which connects to the PA Quaker branch. If my death dates are correct, then both Ann and Salome Sellers Travis were dead in 1860.

John, who has identified the women in the photo? It is a terrific photo regardless of who the women are.

It is too late tonight, but in a coming email I'll outline my connection to the Sellers - the early NC connection and their links to the York Plantation on the Cape Fear River. I believe Ann was their firstborn child. She married the boy next door - Robert Galloway. Robert's father died when he was a teen,. Robert sold the land he inherieted and moved to Kentucky with his father-in-law, Matthew Sellers before 1800.

I have a Galloway website you might enjoy visiting. If you are interested, I'll send you an invitation with an ID and PW. It is a private site through MyFamily.com. On it is a copy of an old journal entry that says Robert Galloway sold his land and improvements to "Mr. Vick" in Warren Co., MS, implying that the land where the Vicks settled was previously Galloway land. The Galloways then moved closer to Warrenton, the old county seat. I haven't found the deed to prove it, but it would indicate that the first Galloway settlement was near modern-day Vicksburg. The Sellers traveled with the Galloways (or vis-a-versa) to Mississippi several years before it was a State. Deed records in Brunswick Co., NC, refer to Robert Galloway as a "riverboat pilot" on the Cape Fear River. Whether he countinued his trade on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers has not be proven but seems plausible.

Dave Johnston

===========================

Marie:

I have had some thoughts about the photograph. You are right about the date of 1860 being too late for Ann Corbett to be alive. Through a process of elimination of the limited possibilities available, it is of Matthew, Ann Corbett, and Salome in the 1820s upon purchase of the plantation, whicg would make sense. Otherwise, it is of Matthew, Elizabeth Cash (d. 1865) and her mother. My uncle Matthew put the date label on the photograph and may be in error.

John

===

JOHN,
IF it is Matthew Sellers in front of his plantation. okay, we just need the year. (it looks okay to me /house/age, etc)
MUST know when house built. I was going to check today and NO TIME.
=
My first land deed for him, I Think is 1829 and Not sure exact location. Should find out. I can send if needed and then ask =

Number of acres: 178.5800 Accession number: LA0860__.057
Patentee Surname: Sellers Patentee given name: Matthew B.
Land office: Quachita
Section number: 52
Township: 20 North Range: 13 East
Meridian or special survey area: Louisiana Meridian
Combined signature date: Apr. 2, 1829
====

Wife Elizabeth Cash Sellers would be alive in 1860

her mother??? was who? =
still living in 1860? = should be on 1860 census! ( I haven't posted All, Dave may have more or You)
WHO were her Parents, sister?

I know you probably all have these census, but, they should be Studied and annotated. ( I may include at bottom, msh)

NO slaves in 1840 (but 10 total in house) and 1850 he has about 60,000 in land (incluces house, don't know) and 68 slaves.
And he had to have slaves to build this house.

I am sure the 1860 date is better documented.

Thanks so much for sharing.
marie,iowa
=======

1840 CARROLL PAR., LA=

MATHEW B. SELLARS, PAGE 133 = 1 MALE 40/50 AND 1 FEMALE 30/40, NO KIDS, NO SLAVES, 10? TOTAL
next
WM D. BLOODSWORTH
WM W. OLD

WALTER SELLERS, PAGE 131 = 2 MALES 30/40 (1800/10) NO FEMALES, 3 FREE COLORED MALES
next
WM DYER
JOHN W. BOOTOUT?

JAMES PHELON, PAGE 131 =
REBECCA OLD, PAGE 129
JAMES E. OLD, PAGE 132
JAMES GALLOWAY , PAGE 130
CHARLES B. RICHARDSON, PAGE 128
ELIJAH RICHARDSON, PAGE 128

MORANCY?

===========================

Marie:

I am not sure when Oakland Plantation house was built. Information obtained from the book " A Place to Remember" indicates that Matthew bought the house in 1838 from Wiley Talyor.

Visiting the Lake Providence historical web sites (Google), Matthew made quite a few purchases of land. If Matthew purchased the house in 1838, Ann Corbett was not alive, and she is buried on the plantation property. I thought that he had purchased the property in the 1820's. I think that the book amy be wrong.

John

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