Joseph Richard Shull’s mother was Sarah Elizabeth Lofftus.The 1900 Census has her born in January of 1827. She was the daughter of John Lofftus and Synthia (sometimes spelled Syntha or Cynthia) Sandy (1801-1861).John and Synthia were married on May 16, 1824 in Rockingham VA.They had 4 children; Ralph Lofftus born January 1825, Sarah born January 1827, Archibald born 1833 died 1901, confederate soldier, and Margaret born 1835.
John fits the description of the youngest son of Ralph Lofftus of Augusta, Rockingham county, VA, but the spelling of the last name, the location, and age are all I have for evidence of this at this time.
In Bryan vs Administrators of Lofftus, a John Lofftus is mentioned as one of the six living brothers and sisters of Ralph A Lofftus.Also noted is that there are 2 infant heirs of a deceased bother.Nathan Lofftus is also mentioned as an heir.I have evidence that the deceased brother is Washington Lofftus.
Reports of Cases Decided in the Supreme Court of Appeals, and in the GeneralCourt of Virginia.Volume 1 from April 1, 1842 to April 1, 1843 by Conway Robison, Richmod,Second Edition, J. E. Goode, Printer, Randopl & English, Binders, pp. 13-21.
“ Richmond” Byran v. Lofftus’s adm’rs1842, May
(Absent Standard and Baldwin J.*)
The remaining names of the Lofftus brothers and sisters can be found in a deed book : ( This was lifted from a message board and the spelling of Lofftus may have been changed.)
Margaret Sanders, 6 January 1801, 151 acres adjoining Peter Bowman and William Blain &c. Grantee(s): Loftus, John; Sarah Woods (late Sarah Loftus), George Loftus, Margaret Sanders (late Margaret Loftus), Ralph Loftus, Washington Loftus, James and Nathan Loftus (Heirs at law and legal representatives of Ralph Loftus dec’d.). Rockingham County. Citedreferences is Virginia Valley Records: Genealogical and Historical Materials of Rockingham, by John W. Wayland, Strasburg ,Virginia, 1930This suggests that either Ralph had married Sarah Woods or that he was predeceased by a son who had married her. Iam a descendant of James Lofftus.
Ralph Lofftus (also spelled Loftus, Lofftis, or Loftis) and Sarah Givens appear many times in Rockingham records.They also appear as Lofftis in Some Webster County Kentucky Families by Minerva Bone Bassett with three children that are not listed.Various genealogy trees report these children as Margaret,A. (either as a daughter or son) and Francis (son).
The will of John Givens on 14th January, 1790 lists Sarah Lofftis (reported inCHRONICLES OF THE SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLEMENT OF VIRGINIA; Vol 3, by Lyman Chalkley page 187) I have dates for births, marriages, military, land ownership, for all except John Lofftus indicating that only John and George might have been born after 1790.
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