Interesting Story: Pleasant Lilly & his wives...

Just to recap: We have been tracing the lineage of my grandmother Sylvia Hammack Watson lately which goes as follows: Sylvia & Harry Hammack were the children of Ray Martin Hammack (1893-1968) and Hazel Graham (1896-1918). Hazel's parents were Robert Thomas Graham (1870-1908) & Martha Texas McKinney (1871-1950). Robert's parents were Anderson Graham & Marinda Adaline Shrewsbury-Lilly (or Solesbury or Salsbury, depending on which records you are tracing). This is the story of Marinda's parents, Pleasant Lilly & Nancy Jane Shrewsbury.

Pleasant Lilly was born about 1807 in Giles Co., VA and died after 1881 Raleigh Co.,WV. He is buried along near the Odd Road (Raleigh County, WV).

Pleasant married Delilah Pittman about 1823 probably in Giles Co., VA. Delilah is the daughter of Rueben Pittman. She was born 23 Dec 1801. Prior to 1850 Delilah moved from the farm and is listed with her 16 year old son Christopher in the 1850 Raleigh Co., VA Census. She was 75 years old when she died 18 July 1877.

Children of Pleasant Lilly’s first marriage - Delilah were:
i. Levi Madison Lilly (1822-?)
ii. Hiram Robert Lilly (1825-1880) m Elizabeth U Lilly on 23 September 1847. They had 3 children.
iii. John S Lilly (1829-1917) m Salina Roles. They had 2 children.
iv. William H. Lilly (1832-1909), known as "Groundhog Bill", was married twice. His first wife was a Lilly and his second wife was a Ferguson. He was the father of twelve children.
v. Christopher Lilly (1834-1881)
vi. Annie Lilly (1840-?)

It seems there was a problem between Delilah and Pleasant. Their youngest son, William was born 16 Dec 1832 in Giles Co., Virginia. Pleasant looked elsewhere for companionship. Pleasant moved two sisters Millie and Nancy Shrewsbury/Solesbury onto his farm and started to raise two additional families. The first of his new familyarrived about 1836 from Nancy and the last also from Nancy arrived 16 July 1857. Between these dates Millie presented Pleasants with 11 children and Nancy another 10. Pleasant’s will names all his children that were still living when he died.

After Delilah left him, Pleasant moved into the household of Millie Shrewsbury. In the 1850 US census report Pleasant was listed as head of household with Millie and six children ranging from ages 2 to 13 years old. Two of Pleasant's sons by Delilah were living in the household.

Nancy Shrewsbury was next door to Pleasant & her sister on Pleasant's land. She was listed as head of household with seven children, ages ranging from 1 month to 14 years old. In the 1860 and 1870 census for Wyoming Co.

Legend has it that the two sisters told Delilah that they were going to kill her. Delilah would not give Pleasant a divorce. But it appears that Pleasant and Millie must have gotten married by 1867 because she was using the name "Millie Lilly" on her children’s marriage records after this date. No record of this marriage has been found. One source said it may have been accepted in their religious circle for a man to have more than one wife. Something to research…
Marriage #2 Amelia “Milly” Shrewsbury (1818-1881) m abt 1865

Children with Milly:
i. Green Washington Lilly (1828-?) Note: several sources site him as their son but that would make Millie only 10 years old when she had him. So one or both of their birthdates may be wrong.
ii. Elizabeth Jane Shrewsbury (1831-1900) m John Bragg & John Farley
iii. Daniel Boone Shrewsbury (1837-?) m Sula A ??. They had one son.
iv. Wilmuth Shrewsbury(1843- ?)
v. Clarissa Ann Shrewsbury (1845-?)
vi. Judith Shrewsbury (1845-?)
vii. Lydia Shrewsbury (1846-?)
viii. Amanda M. Lilly (1847-?)
ix. Margaret J. Lilly (1850-?) m George Washington Bowlen in 1867. They had 9 children.
x. John M. Shrewsbury (1852-1881)
xi. Pleasant L. Lilly (1854-?)

Marriage #3 Nancy Jane Shrewsbury (1821- ) After Millie died he married Nancy 6 Aug 1881 Raleigh County, WV. Pleasant Lilly Sr. was 74 years old and Nancy Jane Shrewsbury/Solesbury was 60. The story goes on to say that as he left the court house he said, "Now all my children are legal."

I have very little information on Pleasant & Nancy’s children’s families, but what I have is as follows:
i. Eliza Jane Shrewsbury (1836-1900) m James Jonas Bragg in 1853. They had 5 (?) children.
ii. Rebecca Shrewsbury (1838-?)
iii. Frances Shrewsbury (1840-?)
iv. Cynthia Shrewsbury (1842-?) m Job Meadows on 25 Aug. 1892.
v. Marinda Adaline Shrewsbury (1844-?) m Anderson Graham on 17 Oct. 1864. They had 12 children.
vi. Augustus “Gus” Bird Shrewsbury (1847- 1938) m Mary E Meadows on 13 Jan. 1867. They had 8 children together between 1871-1900. He also had 11 children between 1883-1915 with “girlfriend” Virginia Polk. “Gus had little houses on his farm where his "girlfriends" lived (Ginny Polk) lots of kids and grandkids living with him at the time(1910).” (Like father like son??)
vii. Nancy Catherine Shrewsbury (1850-1933) m Creed T Meador in 1865.
viii. Rhoda Shrewsbury (1851-?)
ix. Docia Shrewsbury (1855-?)
x. William Edward Shrewsbury (1857-1939)

Millie and Nancy are the daughters of Phillip "Thomas" Shrewsbury/Solesbury (1779-1834) and his wife Lucy Maxey (1786-sometime after 1823). Thomas and Lucy were married in Franklin County, VA on 7 January 1801. The name is spelled Salsbury in the marriage record. Lucy is listed as the daughter of Phoebe and the Surety was John Maxey.

Thomas Shrewsbury was the son of Jeremiah Solesbury (1755-1809) and Mary Elizabeth Clay (1755-1810). Lucy Maxey was the daughter of Josiah Maxey (1748-1793) and Phebe Boaz Arthur (1748-??) .

Pleasant's parents were Thomas Edmond Lilly (1770-1834) and Rosanna Edith Meador (1771-1851). Thomas is the son of Robert Lilly II (1720-1818) and mary Frances Moody (1732-1818). More on them next time.

Rosanna was the daughter of Josiah Meador Sr. (1734-1797) and Lavinia Lorena Moody (1729-1798).

Here’s another interesting note, Pleasant obvious could not read or write, his signature at the end of the deed transcribed below was an X. The following deed was recorded in Wyoming Co. WV:
This deed made the 19th day of July 1867 between Pleasant Lilly of the one part and Pleasant Lilly Jr., Hannah C. Lilly, John W. Lilly, Pleasant Solesbury, Edward Solesbury and John Solesbury of the other part. Witnessth that in consideration of the sum of One dollar the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged and in further consideration of Maternal love and affection he the said Pleasant Lilly Sr. doth hereby grant unto the said Pleasant Lilly and Hannah Lilly all that portion of land lying on the waters of Piney and Guyandotte river in the County of Wyoming and Raleigh which lies in the county of Raleigh and he grants unto the said John M. Solesbury, Pleasant Solesbury, Edward Solesbury all that portion of said tract of land which lies in the County of Wyoming and he the said Pleasant Lilly also grants unto the said John Solesbury a tract of land lying in the county situated on Mitchells Ridge and containing two cows, one horse and 10 hogs and the said Pleasant Lilly Sr. warrants generously the property hereby conveyed. Witness the following signature and seal. X