I am interested in Nancy Shields daughter of David Driskell. This person is an enigma. I still can't prove that our Nancy Shields is the same person as the daughter of David Driskell and I see that some have her tentatively as the Nancy Shields on the 1850 census in Richland Co, Ill.

I believe she is the Nancy Schields 55 born in Ky listed on the 1850 census of Atchison Co, Mo. In her household she had David 21 and Angeline 14 both born in Kentucky. If these are her children they must be illegitimate?? but that isn't the point here. [Yes, I know Nancy was 54 in 1844 and 55 in 1850 - some of us just don't age so fast!]

Nancy Driskell daughter of David, married Alexander Shields 30 Dec 1809 in Henry Co, Ky [bond]. They had a son Miles Shields born 1810 Henry Co, Ky and a daughter Rebecca Shields born ca1812 Henry Co, Ky. According to the Will Book 2 in Henry Co, Ky, Alexander was deceased by June 1814. There are many court cases involving land transaction between Alexander's father, Patrick Shields, and Patrick's heirs. After Alexander's death, Nancy Shields, Miles Shields, and Rebecca Shields are named in his stead.

There are also some court cases dealing with Alexander Shields and David Driskell before this - something about they were sued for not completing something they were contracted to build.

Nancy Shields is on the 1830 census of Henry Co, Ky. She is in the household of Miles Shields on the 1840 census of Montgomery Co, Ill. While living in Montgomery Co, Ill, another son William P. Shields signed up as a soldier and died at Camp Crockett, Texas Oct 4, 1846. From that service of William P. Shields, Nancy Shields ascertained that she was his mother and was granted 160 acres of land in Atchison Co, Mo for payment of that service. Thus we get Nancy Shields on the 1850 census of Atchison Co, Mo.

William P. Shields was born ca 1825 Ky, David Shields was born ca 1828 Ky and Angeline Shields was born 1837 Ky. Are these all Nancy Shields' children??

Beginning in Sep 1858 this land owned by Nancy Shields in Atchison Co, Mo is partly sold by Miles Shields and wife Catherine, David Shields, Jefferson Broyles and wife Angeline. The three kids Miles, David and Angeline Shields continue to sell this land as if they are the only heirs.

One of the many problems - Nancy Driskell Shields had a daughter Rebecca who married William Yowell in Henry Co, Ky 08 Mar 1831. She was deceased by this time but had several children who would have been heirs of Nancy Shields also. Miles and Catherine Shields lived and died in Montgomery Co, Ill and most of the family of William and Rebecca Shields Yowell lived there part of the time.

The name Miles as a first name is consistent with others in the family as Davis Driskell had a son Miles also.

Can anybody shed any light on Nancy Shields??

On Angeline Shields Broyles death record in Jun 1924 in Missouri [you can look at this online] her son-in-law said that her mother was " -- Dristol" and father unknown.