The Shackleford family descended from immigrant ancestor Roger Shackleford, who arrived from England in 1657 or 1658 and settled in Virginia. Soon after arrival, he married Mary Palmer, the daughter of the person who organized the voyage. His great great grandson, James, fought at age 18 in the last Revolutionary War battle at Yorktown. Many generations lived in Virginia or Kentucky until Lewis P. Shackleford and his brother John A. (both lawyers) moved to Tacoma in 1890. There they married a pair of sisters, Martha and Charlotte Shane (unconfirmed descendants of a second cousin of Abraham Lincoln, Jacob Robbins). Along with a matriarchy of aunts, sisters and "double" cousins, the family occupied a Victorian home at 211 N. J St. in Tacoma for about 70 years. None of the female descendants of the two Shane sisters married, but all had professional careers: a schoolteacher (Charlotte, a graduate of Columbia), a college biology professor (Dr. Martha W.), a clinical psychologist (Nancy), and a lawyer and judge (Elizabeth).

ROGER, THE IMMIGRANT
It is generally conceded by those who have been interested in studying the history and genealogy of the Shackelford family in Virginia that the immigrant was named Roger. One writer has stated that the immigrant was John, but it is my belief that John was a son of Roger. The above referred to writer states that John was living in King and Queen County in 1649. I have not been able to substantiate this. King and Queen was not formed from New Kent until 1691.
It is known, however, from the records that Edward Palmer, from England, received a patent or grant of 400 acres in Gloucester for the transportation of eight persons, including Roger Shackelford. The date of this grant was June 4, 1658. The actual arrival of those transported must have been a year or more before this date.
Edward Palmer had a sister, Mary, on this list and there is good reason to believe Roger Shackelford married Mary Palmer.
The following land grant (Land Book VI, p. 665) to Roger appears under date of Nov. 20, 1678, during the Governorship of Sir Herbert Jeffries. "Roger Shackelford-313 acres of land in Gloucester County, Virginia, beginning to be measured at a corner chestnut tree standing near Mataponyold path and touching the land of Edward Parker (or Palmer?), Mr. Patridge, by the branch on the back side of the said Roger Shackelford's now plantation. The land being due the said Roger Shackelford by two several purchases and by virtue of a deed of sale from Mr. Samuel Patridge and Thomas Hawks (?) who are now both deceased and now plainly marked with lines and corner trees according to the above mentioned bounds". (Note: - By the wording of the above it is seen that Roger already had one plantation.)
In Virginia Quit Rent Rolls taken 1704, "a true account of the lands in King and Queen County, Virginia, as it was taken by Robert Bird, Sheriff, we find the name Roger Shackelford, 250 acres".
Roger Shackelford appears as a member of the vestry of Petsworth Parish, Sept. 13, 1679. On October 14, 1680, Roger was appointed Church Warden, in same Parish for the "ensueing year" for upper part of Parish.
Roger was present as a Warden at a Vestry Meeting, Oct. 24, 1682 and again Sept. 24, 1683. At that time in Virginia's history Vestrymen and Wardens and those elected "to procession", were chosen only from the most substantial citizens.
I do not know the exact location in either Gloucester or King and Queen counties where Roger and Mary Palmer, his wife, lived. Search has been made to find Roger's will, but without success. The date of his death and place of burial are also lost to any records I can find, but he must have died after 1704, as he appears on the Quit Rent Roll for that year.
It is not definitely known how many children he left to survive him, but certainly James, Francis and John were his sons, also Zachariah and very probably others.
Source: Robert B. Sha

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