I wish now to add one more reason Sarah O’Shields named in the Minutes of Friendship Baptist was NOTt the wife of Jethro O’Shields, who was born between 1761-1762.  In 1841, Jethro was about 80 years of age.  If this Sarah O’Shields was the ONLY woman who married Jethro O’Shields, this would mean she was at least 70 years of age in  1841.    IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY A WOMAN OF 70 YEARS PLUS would have left her 80 year old husband, especially in the years 1841-1842, Spartanburg, South Carolina, when life for most was a daily struggle, and most women were worn out by the age of fifty.

According to one family researcher, Jethro O’Shields and his wife, Sarah, had a daughter, Elizabeth, and this Elizabeth married James Hewitt.  This researcher has stated  Jethro married only one time to Sarah, but NOW that same researcher is trying to retract that statement by saying he couldn’t rule out the possibility that Jethro’s first wife was NOT named Sarah.  In that case the Sarah he claims was the mother of Elizabeth, he is now claiming was NOT the mother of Elizabeth.  He can’t have it both ways.   AGAIN, if Sarah O’Shields in the Minutes of Friendship Baptist Church was really the wife of Jethro and the mother of Elizabeth, this Sarah had to have been 70 years of age.  If she was not the wife of Jethro and mother of Elizabeth, then this person can no longer say Jethro O’Shields married Sarah, and they had a daughter, Elizabeth, who married James Hewitt.

The records show Elizabeth, the wife of James Hewitt, was born sometime between 1790-1793.  Her mother would had to have been born no later than 1774. By 1841, Elizabeth’s mother would had to have been near 70 years of age, just as I stated.  Therefore, back to my conclusion.  Sarah O’Shields, 1841-1842, recorded in the Minutes of the Friendship Baptist Church was not the wife of Jethro O’Shields.  She was probably the wife of Henry O’Shields.   Henry reported his wife, Sarah, left him and was NOT reporting HIS OWN MOTHER HAD DESERTED HIS FATHER.  The very notion is beyond comprehension.   Henry O’Shields and his wife, Sarah, moved from South Carolina to Texas.   It is possible this couple moved to Texas as a result of their family problems.  I doubt we will ever know.

It appears that common sense is no longer alive and well in this country.  Anyone who can be talked into believing a 70 year old woman in 1841 left her husband and reportedly for no good reason. Well, what more is there to say.

I have one final thought about Sarah O’Shields. Sarah could have been the daughter-in-law of John O’Sheal, who served in the Revolutionary War. In 1840 Census, living in the house with John O’Sheal was a male age 40-50. This male may have been named Jeffrey, Jefferson, or Jeff and would have been the son of John O’Sheal, RWV.