WILLIAM SHORT, b. 1613, England, d. 1659, Surry County, Virginia

married Elizabeth SYMONS, parents unknown. William Short's will was the oldest one found in Virginia. It was found in a Wigwam.

William Short came to Virginia from England in 1635. He came from the western part of England, probably around Plymouth. His arrival was 28 years after the first English settlement at Jamestown, Virginia and 15 years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts. William was an early American settler.

Children:

  1. Sarah SHORT, b. 1639: m. George MIDDLETON, ca. 1660. Lived in Charles City Co., VA.
  2. William SHORT, b. ca. 1641; m. Mary ROOKINGS. Lived in Surry Co., VA.
  3. Thomas SHORT, b. ca. 1643; m. (Unknown). Probably lived in Prince George Co., VA. Co., VA.

Return to Top of Page


THOMAS SHORT, son of William Short and Elizabeth SYMONS Short, b. ca 1643.

His wife is unknown. Moved to Cabin Point, Surry Co., VA. He received a tract of land on Burlin Swamp from his father, on a tributary of upper Chippokes Creek.

Children:

1. Robert SHORT, b. ca. 1668; m. Amy (Unknown). Living in Brunswick Co., VA.

2. William SHORT, b. ca 1670; m. Elizabeth GRIFFITH. Lived in Prince George Co., VA

Return to Top of Page


WILLIAM SHORT (2nd son of Thomas SHORT and unknown wife), b. ca. 1670.

He lived in a section called Wyanoak Parish. He m. Elizabeth GRIFFITH, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth GRIFFITH of Prince George Co. VA. His name appears in court records many times in the unindexed Prince George records. He was an overseer of the road from Wilkinson brick house to Warthen's mill, and was an appraiser of estates.

Children:

  1. Susannah SHORT, b. ca 1696
  2. Henry SHORT, b. ca 1698
  3. Cornelius SHORT, b. ca. 1700
  4. Thomas SHORT, b. ca 1702

Return to Top of Page


CORNELIUS SHORT (3rd child of William SHORT and Elizabeth GRIFFITH SHORT), b. ca. 1700.

His first marriage was to (unknown) TYNES, daughter of Isaac TYNES. He must have been a land speculator as his land was found in Henrico, Chesterfield, Amelia, Prince Edward, and Halifax COS., VA. He had 3 children with his first wife: William, Cornelius Jr., and John. His 2nd marriage was to Hannah HESTERLY, daughter of Francis and Prodence HESTERLY of Henrico Co., VA. His children with Hannah were: Mary and Francis.

Children:

  1. William SHORT, b. 4 Aug 1730, m. 1st Winifred RICHARDSON, 2nd Winifred TYNES lived Pittsylvania Co., VA.
  2. Cornelius SHORT JR, b. ca 1732, m. Unknown ECHOLS. Lived in Halifax Co., VA.
  3. John SHORT, b. ca. 1734, m. Elizabeth ECHOLS. Lived in St Clair Co., IL.
  4. Mary SHORT, ca. 1740, m. 1st Isaac ECHOLS and 2nd Joseph Hancock
  5. Francis E. SHORT, b. 1742, m. 1st in Pittsylvania to (Name Unknown). 2nd to Georgia Unknown.

Return to Top of Page


FRANCIS E. SHORT, (5th child of Cornelius SHORT Sr. And Hannah HESTERLY), b. 1742 d. after 1809 in Wilkes Co., GA.

In 1763, 159 acres of land was conveyed from his parents to him at age 21, in Pittsylvania Co., VA. In 1779, Francis moved to Wilkes Co., GA. He may have also lived in Oglethorpe Co., GA as he owned property there as well. His mother Hannah accompanied him to GA.

Children:

  1. David SHORT, b. ca.1772, Pittsylvania Co., VA
  2. William SHORT, b. ca. 1774, Pittsylvania Co., VA
  3. Reuben C. SHORT, b. 1777 Pittsylvania Co., VA
  4. Edward SHORT, b. ca. 1784, Wilkes Co., GA
  5. John SHORT, b. ca. 1786, Wilkes Co., GA.

Note: Francis also probably had daughters but their names have not been learned.

Return to Top of Page


WILLIAM SHORT (2nd child of Francis E. SHORT and unknown wife) ca. 1774

Married, probably in Wilkes or Jasper Co., GA. Wife's name unknown. He moved to Wilkes Co., GA in 1779 with his father and grandmother. His name appeared in the 1805 GA land lottery and was entitled to two draws. In 1821, the orphans of William received one lottery draw meaning his wife (name unknown) was still living in GA. William SHORT's younger brother Reuben C. SHORT was appointed guardian of William's children.

Children:

  1. James SHORT, b. ca. 1801
  2. Jesse SHORT, b. ca. 1803 in Wilkes Co., GA; m. Mary EVANS. Lived in Franklin Co., TN
  3. Francis SHORT, b. ca. 1805
  4. William SHORT, b. ca. 1807
  5. Unknown SHORT, b. ca. 1809

Return to Top of Page


JESSE SHORT (2nd child of William SHORT and unknown wife), b. 1803; m. Mary EVANS, 13 Jan 1825 in Wilkes Co., GA. He lived in Washington, GA and moved to Troup Co., GA, along with his cousin Robert B. SHORT. In 1833, he was in Chambers Co., AL and settled on land near the town of Standing Rock. In 1850 Jesse and his family were living in Dade County, Georgia. Around 1851, he came to Cowan, Franklin Co., TN where his occupation was given as a farmer. His sons worked on the first railroad up the mountain to the town now known as Sewanee.

Children:

  1. William SHORT, b. ca. 1828, Wilkes Co., GA, m. Martha Unknown. Lived in Trenton, GA.
  2. David SHORT, b. ca. 1830, Troup Co., GA, m. Mary Unknown. Lived in Sewanee, Franklin Co., TN., Stevenson Co. and Jackson Co., AL.
  3. Elizabeth SHORT, b. ca. 1832, Troup Co., GA, probably m. Trenton, GA.
  4. John SHORT, b. ca. 1834, Chambers Co., AL. He died in Franklin Co., TN.
  5. Reuben Boaz SHORT, b. 3 Jun 1836, Chambers Co., AL, m. Julia Ann AUSTIN.
  6. Jesse SHORT Jr., b. ca. 1839, Chambers Co., AL. May have lived in Bedford, TN during Civil War.
  7. Emilyn "Emma" SHORT, b. ca.1841, Chambers Co., AL
  8. Franklin M. SHORT, b. ca. 1843, m. Alice Unknown. Lived in Sewanee, Franklin Co., TN

He was a well known stone mason and helped build the University of the South.

  1. Misoulyn "Mary" SHORT, b. ca. 1845, AL, m. William "Buck" THOMAS. Lived in Sewanee, TN and Jackson Co., AL.
  2. Samantha SHORT, b. ca. 1848, AL., m. George BARNES, 21 May 1867, in Franklin Co., TN.
  3. Andrew Jackson "General" SHORT, m. Americas Elizabeth "Lizzie" LINDSEY, 11 May 1851 in TN.

Return to Top of Page


REUBEN BOAZ SHORT (5th child of Jesse Short and Mary EVANS), b. 3 Jun 1836, m. 1 Dec 1866 to Julia Ann AUSTIN. Lived in Sewanee, Franklin Co., TN. He was born in Chambers Co., AL near Standing Rock. His father Jesse and Uncle Rueben Short were among the original white settlers of Chambers Co. It is thought that his parents came to Franklin Co., TN between 1851 and 1855. They lived on a farm in the Cowan, TN area. Reuben was a veteran of the Civil War. Died 2 Mar 1898, Sewanee, TN. Buried in University Cemetery at Sewanee.

Children:

  1. Frank SHORT, b. 1867, m. 1st Julia Ann FINNEY, 2nd Ivy TATE.
  2. Reuben SHORT (Twin), b. ca. 1868, died as infant.
  3. Martha "Mattie" SHORT (Twin), b. ca. 1868, died as infant.
  4. Emma SHORT, b. 10 Aug 1869, m. Allen GIBSON, 28 Jun 1890.
  5. Sallie SHORT, b. ca. 1870, died as infant.
  6. Florence SHORT, b. ca. 1872, died as infant.
  7. John James SHORT, b. 10 Feb 1874, m. Annie Elizabeth "Betty" O'DEAR.
  8. David Washington SHORT, b. 4 Jan 1875, m. Litha Leitha BARNES, 19 Feb 1903.
  9. Rubin Benjamin SHORT, b. 16 Apr 1881, m. Lena Elizabeth MORRIS, 21 Jun 1904.
  10. Jessie (female) SHORT. She died as an infant.
  11. Preston Edward SHORT, b. 7 Apr 1889, m. 1st Esther BOWEN, 2nd Mary CLINE.

Return to Top of Page


DAVID WASHINGTON SHORT (8th child of Reuben Boaz SHORT and Julia Ann AUSTIN SHORT), b. 4 Jan 1875. He m. Litha Leitha BARNES, daughter of George and Nancy MCKNIGHT BARNES on 19 Feb 1903 in Winchester, TN. David was 28 years old and Litha 20 years old when they were married. Litha's mother, Nancy Jane MCKNIGHT BARNES and David's mother, Julia Ann AUSTIN SHORT were half sisters, and daughters of Mary GIBSON AUSTIN MCKNIGHT WEAVER. He died 4 Oct 1951, Sewanee, TN.

Children:

  1. Marvin Lee SHORT, b. 28 Nov 1903, never married. He died 6 Nov 1985 in Chattanooga, TN and is buried in O'Dear Cemetery at Sewanee, TN.
  2. Joseph "Reece" SHORT, b. 6 Dec 1905, m. 1st Lou SULLIVAN CARNES, 2nd Arnie CHAMPION KELLY GASS. He died 13 Sep 1996 at Belleville, IL and is buried at O'Dear Cemetery Sewanee, TN.
  3. William "Lawrence" SHORT, b. 7 Nov 1907, m. 1st Johnnie SMITH, 2nd Katie Samantha SULLIVAN. She died in Chattanooga, TN. Buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Chattanooga, TN.
  4. Alfred Vernon SHORT, b. 27 Sep 1909, died 20 Feb 1911. Buried in O'Dear Cemetery, Sewanee, TN.
  5. Dorothy Lorine SHORT, b. 24 Apr 1914, m. 1st Marion Fisher ANDREWS, 2nd Thomas HUGHES. She lives in Charlestown, IN.

Return to Top of Page


JOSEPH "REECE" SHORT (2nd child of David Washington SHORT and Litha Leitha BARNES SHORT), b. 6 Dec 1905, m. Lou Lemuel Phoebe Irene SULLIVAN, daughter of John Duncan SULLIVAN and Augusta PASSONS SULLIVAN.

Children:

  1. Joseph Reece SHORT Jr. (twin), b. 4 Jan 1934, died 23 Feb 1934 of Pneumonia.
  2. Josephine SHORT (twin), b. 4 Jan 1934, d. Dec. 24, 1982, Winchester, TN. m. Charles WISEMAN, 30 May 1952.
  3. Clyde Edward SHORT, b. 21 Aug 1938, died 20 Aug 1941 of Polio.
  4. Patricia Sue SHORT, b. 15 May 1942, m. Steve MAKRIS, 25 Feb 1963.
  5. William Lewis SHORT, b. 2 Feb 1947, m. Joan Leslie HILL, 22 Jul 1967.
  6. Thelma Mae SHORT, b. 26 Jul 1952, m. 1st Dominic PISO, 21 Sep 1969, 2nd William BROWN, 29 Mar 1979, 3rd Breck PORTER, 14 Oct 1986.

Return to Top of Page