Evan Shelby facts for kids

Evan Shelby (born 1720 – died 1794) was an important figure in early American history. He was born in Wales and later moved to the American colonies. Evan Shelby became a trapper and a skilled military officer. He served on the frontier of the Southern colonies, helping to protect settlers and expand the new country.

Early Life and Family

Evan Shelby was born in 1720 in a place called Tregaron, Wales. His parents were Evan Shelby and Catherine Davies Morgan. When he was about 14 years old, in 1734, his family moved across the ocean to America. They first lived in Pennsylvania before settling in Maryland. Young Evan worked on a farm near Frederick, Maryland, which was known as "Mountain of Wales."

Evan Shelby married twice. His first wife was Letitia Cox. They had five sons and three daughters together. One of their sons, Isaac Shelby, later became the very first governor of Kentucky. Letitia Cox Shelby passed away in 1777. Evan Shelby married his second wife, Isabella Elliot, in 1787, and they had three more children.

Life on the American Frontier

Evan Shelby played a big part in the growth of the American frontier. He was a brave soldier and a smart leader.

Serving in Wars

During the French and Indian War, Evan Shelby served as a captain. He was a scout and helped map out new areas. He was even there when Fort Duquesne was captured. This was an important victory for the British and American colonists.

Later, in the 1770s, Shelby built a fort, a store, and a trading post. This was near where Bristol, Tennessee, is today, close to the border between Virginia and North Carolina. It was a busy place for traders and settlers. He also led a group of militia soldiers during Lord Dunmore's War. They fought at the Battle of Point Pleasant near the Kanawha River.

Military Leadership

Evan Shelby was a respected military leader. Here are some of his roles:

• He was a Major in the Virginia Militia from 1775 to 1776.
• He became a Colonel in the Washington District Regiment of the North Carolina militia from 1776 to 1777.
• He continued as a Colonel in the Washington County Regiment of the North Carolina militia from 1777 to 1783.

Evan Shelby strongly supported the fight for American independence. He signed the Fincastle Resolutions, which were important statements of colonial rights. He helped defend Virginia's western frontier during the American Revolutionary War. In 1777, he became a colonel and led raids against the Chickamauga Cherokee. By 1787, he was a brigadier general in western North Carolina. He was even asked to be the governor of the State of Franklin, but he chose not to take the job.

Later Life and Legacy

Evan Shelby passed away in 1794 when he was 74 years old. His grave is in East Hill Cemetery in Bristol, Tennessee. His family's important historical papers are kept safe at the Library of Congress.

Today, there are chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution named in honor of General Shelby and his first wife. This shows how important he was to American history.

Images for kids

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  Handwritten payroll from 1777, showing soldiers under Colonel Evan Shelby's command.