Shadrack and Athaliza (Carroll) PINKSTON, by Linda Sparks Starr and other descendants, summer 1997. Researchers believe Shadrack, born circa 1750, is the son of William and Ann (Inman) Pinkston, who moved to Virginia from Baltimore County, Maryland around the time of Shadrack's birth. In 1768 William and another son were living close enough to Colchester, on the Occoquan River in the southern part of Fairfax County, to charge items at the local general store; William and a third son signed the non-importation of British goods agreement circulated in Fairfax in 1770. However, Shadrack's name first appears (1774) in Virginia records in Cameron Parish, Loudoun County. [Index] It is here that he met and married Athaliza CARROLL before May 1776. [Will Book B p. 69] She was the daughter of Demse(y) and Frances (Sanford [?]) Carroll; her sister Frances married Henry Pinkstone who is believed to be Shadrack's brother. Thus they were living in Loudoun County northwest of present day D.C. metroplex when they heard the news of fighting around Lexington, Concord and Boston. Many men who answered the first call to arms following Bunker Hill joined state militia units, signing up for only a few months and not more than one year of service. General Washington grew desperate after the battles around New York City in the early fall of 1776. Not only was he dealing with the lack of morale in his current army, he was rapidly running out of time. He would lose many soldiers by the end of November, and by the first of January the one- year enlistment period ended for most of his army. Few of these men were expected to re-enlist. That fall he sent appeals in all directions for new recruits. Congress assigned each "state" a quota based on population. Authorization came September 16 for a new 11th VA Regiment as part of the Continental Line. Records in the National Archives and State Library of Virginia reveal Shadrack enlisted November 26, 1776 for three years as a Corporal in Capt. William Smith's Company of Foot. For this he received two pounds, 15 shillings in pay per month with an extra 10 shillings a week for subsistence. This unit was assigned to the main army December 27, 1776 - just two days after Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware River. On February 3, 1777 the 11th VA was reorganized into various companies. Shadrack appears in Col. Daniel Morgan's Independent Riflemen, suggesting he was a marksman. May 1, 1777 Shadrack transferred to the Commander-in-Chief's Guard at Morristown, New Jersey as a private. This was a handpicked group of personal bodyguards for General Washington, created March 12, 1776 after persistent rumors and one actual attempt on his life. Washington's aide instructed each man was to be chosen "for their sobriety, honesty and good behavior. He wishes them to be from five feet eight inches to five feet ten inches, handsomely and well made, and, as there is nothing in his eyes more desirable than cleanliness in a soldier, he desires that particular attention may be made in the choice of such men as are clean and spruce." [Godfrey, p. 19-20] Discretion was also necessary for the guard was entrusted with the General's personal papers and baggage. This group is on record as participating in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown fall 1777. Shadrack was thus with Washington at Valley Forge the winter of 1777-78. Although his lot was better than the average soldier, they all suffered that long, cold winter. Families of soldiers were not left to fend entirely for themselves; the family of Shadrack Pinkstone is listed among those "Ordered to be provided for" March 10, 1778 and again in 1779. [King p. 57] After serving a little longer than his three years enlistment period, Shadrack was discharged at Morristown December 16, 1779. Shadrack and his family were in Fauquier County, Virginia in the early 1780s. [Gott] The last known entry for him in Virginia is the date he assigned his bounty land warrant (payment for his war service) to William Gaine November 10, 1785. [Virginia Library] According to tradition, they resided in South Carolina before settling in Georgia; however we know nothing about them from November 10, 1785 until April 1, 1794 when he appears in Wilkes County, Georgia purchasing 218 acres on the Dry Fork of Rocky Creek. [Deed Book NN, p. 334] Other Wilkes County records tell us he paid taxes on this land and for two slaves that same year. And then Shadrack died shortly before July 18, 1785, the date his widow was granted leave to administer on his estate. [Davidson v.2 p. 270-1] At a time when it was rare for girls to be educated, estate records reveal a tutor was paid for Charlotte. Also, according to estate records, his widow married the widower Fadda JARRETT in 1797. She moved into Jarrett's home on Kettle Creek with her youngest daughters where "'the old gentleman'" says he will not charge the girls for board". Fadda died in 1813. The twice-widowed Atha (as she is now called) accompanied family members to Fayette County in the early 1830s. Here, she made her home with son-in-law Benjamin Starr until her death in the summer of 1846. [Wills p. 62] Her grave, one of the older ones in "now" County Line United Methodist Church Cemetery, is marked with a simple fieldstone "Atha Jarrot". However, the DAR is providing a more suitable marker for her as the widow of a Revolutionary War soldier. Only five children are mentioned in Shadrack's probate records. Greenberry was originally considered the eldest, but the recent finding of his obituary changes his birth year. The only order we do know is the youngest two are Sarah and Charlotte and in that order. Therefore this revised (and possibly still incorrect) birth order of children differs from previous accounts. . (1) John Carroll born circa 1775 in Loudoun County, Virginia, died before March 13, 1804 in Wilkes County, Georgia. [Davidson p.271] He married Elizabeth KAIN circa 1801. ("Lawson" as her middle name was added later to Silas Starr's family Bible making it suspect.) They had two children: Greenberry born August 8, 1802, died March 28, 1837 and Elizabeth born April 5, 1804, died. September 3, 1804. The widow, Elizabeth (Kain ) Pinkson, married Silas STARR December 4, 1806. . (2) Frances "Fanny" born circa 1777 died after 1840 in Wilkes County. She married Peter Bennett circa 1803. Although some researchers list five children for them, descendant Gene Lamb has only found proof for daughter Nemesis born circa 1805. . (3) Greenberry (Greenbury) born 1781 in Virginia, died November 19, 1828 in Wilkes County. [Courier] He married 1st Sarah Eidson circa 1800; they had six or more children. He is possibly the Greenberry Pinkston who married Delphia R. Lawson December 6, 1819; he did marry Ann Combs January 14, 1827. (4) Sarah "Sally" born circa 1784 in Fauquier County, Virginia, married James Hurley Jr. April 6, 1803. Their children were: Henry, Pamilia, Atha Carroll, Greenberry, Sarah Pinkston, Jarrett Lewis, James Sanford, Charlotte Frances, and John Carroll. (5) Charlotte born circa 1785 [see following]. SOURCES: ABSTRACTS of WILLS, INVENTORIES, ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTS, LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA: 1757-1800 by J. Estelle Stewart King. ABSTRACTS of FAUQUIER COUNTY, VIRGINIA: WILLS, INVENTORIES AND ACCOUNTS 1759-1800, by John K. Gott. (Augusta) Georgia Courier, Thursday December 4, 1828, vol. 3, No. 61, page 2, col. 6. Bounty Land Warrant 3997 copy of original from Library of Virginia. EARLY RECORDS of GEORGIA: VOL'S. I & II: WILKES COUNTY by Grace Gillam Davidson (reprint 1992) Fayette County Georgia Wills, page 62 Atha Jarrott, signed March 4, 1846, proved September 7, 1846. INDEX to TITHABLES of LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA 1758-1786. Revolutionary War Muster Rolls, copy of originals from National Archives. Undated Last Will and Testament of Dempsey Carroll probated Loudoun Co. Virginia March 13, 1776 names daughter "Athaliah Pinkstone." WILKES COUNTY, GEORGIA DEED BOOKS A-VV: 1784-1806 by Michal Martin Farmer. WILKES COUNTY, GEORGIA TAX RECORDS 1785-1805 in two vols by Frank Parker Hudson.