Included in The Shackletons book is some information about this family, including the obituary of Thomas James Shackleton (son of John Francis and Mary Frances Shackleton). I will try to include as much as possible about this family, for research purposes.
Nothing is known about their life in England. They came to America sometime between the years of 1846 and 1848. They first lived in New York and then moved west to Illinois.
During the excitement of the "Gold Rush," John headed for California via the overland route which took several months. He stayed some time in California seeking his fortune with the result of losing what 'grubstake' money he had taken along for expenses. Tradition says he and other unsuccessful miners walked most of the way back from California, finally 'catching a ride' in Oklahoma.
In all he was absent a couple years from home, and when he arrived in Illinois he found his wife and children gone. Mary has as tradition tells it, supposed him dead since she had not heard from him, and with no means of support she and the children returned to England. The date of their son Josiah's birth in England suggest that she might have returned home for that reason. Many prospectors left the midwest in early spring of 1850 for the gold fields, so it is possible that John may have left Illinois about this time and Mary did not know she was pregnant again until after John had departed.
Not finding his family in the former home in New York, he headed for England. However, the family returned to America a second time. Dates in obituaries differ. Thomas J's and Si's would suggest 1854, while Frank's reads as though it was around 1857. The date 1854 seems more logical, as they settled in three different areas (Illinois, Iowa and Missouri) before John's death in 1858.
Tradition holds that a small child of John and Mary's became ill and died on one of the voyages to America, being buried at sea. It was apparently one of the last two sons. A guess would be that it was Smith Henry, born in 1853, for he would have been a year old, if the family returned in 1854. Also, the last boy was named Charles Henry which seems odd unless the 'Henry' was for the little boy who was lost at sea. For the child was placed in a sheet, the four corners brought together and tied and then lowered into the water.
The children of John Francis and Mary Frances Shackleton:
i. Thomas James, b. 6 November 1845 in Yorkshire, England, d. 12 February 1906 in Springdale, Arkansas, buried in Brown Cemetery, Harrison County, Missouri, m. Susan Ann Smith, b. 11 October 1850 in Harrison County, Missouri, d. 5 March 1932 in El Dorado Springs, Missouri, buried El Dorado Springs, Missouri; 11 children
ii. Francis "Frank," b. 25 October 1848 in Geneva, Illinois, d. 5 December 1919; m. (1) Mrs. Catherine Simpson, she d. 1880; (2) Sarah Howard; 6 children believed to be all by 2nd wife; Joe, Ethlyn, Harley, Buell L, b. 28 March 1893 in Missouri, d. 13 November 1941 in Los Angeles County, California, m. Ruth M. Unknown, b. 10 September 1892, d. 26 December 1977 in Los Angeles County, California; 1 son from 1920 census, Hubert; William A., b. 28 July 1895 in Missouri, d. 19 December 1961 in Los Angeles County, California; and Theodore, b. POSSIBLY 7 December 1903 in Missouri, d. POSSIBLY March 1969.
iii. Josiah "Si", b. 18 September 1850 in Yorkshire, England, d. either 1917 or 1918; buried in Brown Cemetery, Harrison County, Missouri; Never married
iv. Smith Henry, b. 2 June 1853; Believed to be child that was buried at sea
v. Charles Henry, b. 12 June 1856
Children of Thomas James Shackleton and Susan Ann Smith
i. Mary Frances, b. 7 February 1870 in Pawnee, Harrison County, Missouri, d. 16 March 1935 in Lamoni, Iowa, buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, Iowa, m. William E. Hart (son of William Hart) on 4 October 1891; b. 26 April 1863 in Eagleville, Harrison County, Missouri, d. 23 February 1946; 8 children; (a) Jennie June, b. 14 July 1892, d. July 1974, m. Earl Richardson; (b) Roy Amos, b. 11 September 1893, d. 24 June 1947 in Omaha, Nebraska, m. Grace Mackey; (c) Dennis Fleet, b. 11 March 1895, d. Shackleton book states, 6 February 1970, SSDI states, January 1970, m. Chloe Nickerson; (d) James "Malcolm" (goes by Malcolm in census and SSDI) b. 20 March 1897 in Missouri, d. 15 October 1974, m. Ellen Gravett; (e) Walter E., b. 18 September 1899, d. January 1979; (f) Beatrice Marie, b. 2 May 1901, d. 23 June 1965 in Lamoni, Iowa, m. Howard Steckel; (g) Rita Bernice, m. Richard Myers; (h) Arlyne, (see obituary at Newsletter, Vol. 1, No. 23) b. 6 March 1910 in Harrison County, Missouri, d. 15 April 1979; m. Francis M. Brown on 7 July 1928, b. 27 January 1910 in Kellerton, Iowa, d. 7 January 1968; 2 daughters, Mary Lyn, m. Richard Akers and has 1 son, Jonathan Richard; and Nancy Rebecca
ii. John Vison, b. 12 March 1871 in Harrison County, Missouri, d. 26 September 1948
iii. Sarah "Sadie" Isabell, b. 1 May 1872 in Harrison County, Missouri, d. 25 July 1935, m. Philip Edwin Oaks; 1 known daughter, Venus, d. 12 February 1979, m. Mr. Lyons; 3 children (2 sons, 1 daughter, Peggy)
iv. Judith Ann, b. 10 June 1873 in Harrison County, Missouri, d. 23 November 1948, buried Los Angeles
v. Edward F., b. 26 February 1873 in Harrison County, Missouri, d. 2 August 1898
vi. Jennie May, b. 11 May 1877 in Harrison County, Missouri, d. 17 July 1878
vii. Lily Ann, b. 30 March 1879 in Harrison County, Missouri, d. an infant
viii. Thompsey, b. 19 May 1890 in Harrison County, Missouri, d. 23 April 1898
ix. Alfred Kimsy, b. 23 August 1882 in Harrison County, Missouri, d. 19 March 1962
x. Grace Esta, b. 3 February 1887 in Harrison County, Missouri, d. 21 November 1976 in Tulsa, Oklahoma
xi. Elmer C., b. 5 August 1893 in Harrison County, Missouri, d. 16 May 1967, m. Ersie Vetteo
I have no contact information for this family...PLEASE contact me if you are apart of this family...I would love to exchange information with you!!
1) The children of Francis "Frank" Shackleton birth/death dates; California Death Index, 1940-1997; Internet Database; And SSDI
