Person:Michael Shoffner (3)

[Alamance County_Feb 2006_backup.FTW]

1850 Alamance County census: Michl, 65 Sarah, 62 Nelly, 20 Ladosca J, 16 W R Denny, 26

1860 Alamance County census: Michael, 75 Sarah, 73

Notes form another researcher: There is a marriage bond recorded in Orange County NC. between Michael Shofner and Sarah Smith dated December 26, 1803 with Henry Fogleman and Issac Holt as witnesses. Sarah was known as " Sallie". There may have been one child: Oliver Shoffner, born 26 May 1814 and died 19 February 1839 as a result of a shooting accident; buried in St Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Michael remarried after Sarahs[ Sallie] death, which was prior to 1820. He married SARAH Fogleman daughter of P.M. Fogleman.

Were Michael Shoffner and Sarah Smith divorced or was the union ended by her death? The divorce was rejected in 1811: Michael SHOFNER and wife Sarah of Orange County, NC. Petition for Divorce

N.C. General Assembly Sessions Records Nov-Dec 1811 Box 3

Petition of Michael SHOFNER of Orange County, North Carolina sheweth "that he was intermarried to Sarah SMITH in said county, on or about the 25th of December 1803" that the said Sarah possessed beauty and art sufficient tosnare most men, and particularly an innocent and unsuspecting youth as was your petitioner at that time. In the state of matrimony your petitioner calculated alone on peace and happiness, but unfortunately for him and to his great disappointment and surprise, he soon found what he looked upon as a blessing, to prove a curse-a demon. Disregarding the sacred obligation of her marriage vows unmindful of her duties as a wife, and being insensible to shame... to virtue or the benefits of a clear conscience, she gave a look to the barest sensuality and Guilty passions, throughing off all appearance of modesty, she sought Criminal intercourse with every man who was wicked enough to perpratrate the crime of adultery with her"....The petitioner tried in vain "to reclaim her from the paths of vice and debauchery and offered forgiveness for a promise of future good conduct. However she returned to her "former ways of folly and wickedness and abandoned his bed and board for many months. Finally, she returned "to his house and protection and there for a short time remained until instigated by her ungovernable lusts and wicked desires". She again abandoned her home and carried with her much of the property of your petitioner which she has sold" Since then "the said Sarah SHOFNER lead the most abominable course of life and Sensual pleasures and obstinately refused to return to her home" Prays for a divorce. 25 Nov 1811

Divorce REJECTED

Michael married a third time after the second wifes death to Mrs.. Nancy Spoon, a young widow. She was the Daughter of Fredrick Stafford and Sarah Moffit. Nancy married in 1861 to George Spoon who died in the service of the Confederate Army. Nancy and George had one son who was born 1862.

1. ↑ Virginia Loy Fausel, web site by Allen Dew, http://cemeterycensus.com/nc/alam/cem007.htm. St. Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery - transcription. (Location - 2719 Belmont-Alamance Rd., Burlington, NC).