This page includes some generally static information on conventions used in the site, plus some 'recent history' notes, that are of potential interest to visitors to the site, but probably don't warrant being on the front page of the site.

• Non-Specific Dates. I've tried to be quite careful about the use of specific dates (e.g., 22 Jul 1905, May 1888, 1881), only using them when I have some objective evidence to support them. There are many cases where it is quite useful to have a date, even when one is not known or supported. In these cases, I've tried to maintain the following conventions:
  • abt, for "about". This usually represents a fairly well-substantiated guesstimate, such as using "abt 1881" for a birthdate when there is a known christening date sometime in 1881 - not sure, but fairly solid.
  • ca, for "circa". This a definite guess, intended to fix a general time period only. For example, if I have a known birthdate of 1892 for Emily but none for her spouse Norman, I may use "ca 1890" or "ca 1895" for Norman's birthdate, mainly to distinguish this Norman from one born in 1952 or 1752.
  • bef, for "before". This is usually a solid but indefinite date, used to establish an end-date. For example, if records show that - in 1952 - Emily was still alive but widowed, and I have no indication for the date of death of her spouse Norman, I'll use "bef 1952" to show that Norman almost certainly died sometime before 1952, so we need not look for evidence of him after 1952.
  • aft, for "after". Just like "bef", used to establish a date limit. If I have evidence that Emily was alive in 1952 and I know that she is no longer alive now but have no confirmed date of death, I'll use "aft 1952" for the date of death.
• Privacy Conventions. Any genealogy web site - or source of any kind - has to balance the desire to "publish everything" with the need to recognize the privacy rights of living individuals. I use the privacy filter functions of my genealogy software to suppress virtually any personal identification of anyone who is probably still alive, based on the following algorithm:
  • the date of death field has no entry, and
  • the date of birth field is equal to 1910 or later.

  This algorithm has a large hole, which I did not recognize on early updates of the site: if there is no entry in either the birth or death dates, the algorithm allows the publication of the personal information, even if the person is still living. I get around this, when I don't know any specific dates, with the use of a "ca" date for the birth or death dates. So almost every person in the web site has an entry for birth or death, either an actual date or a "ca" entry.

• Recent Site History (Previous Updates)

  • 12-Sep-2007 (Report 033).

    Additions to this site since 14 May 2007 (Report 032) include the addition of about 110 people, including over 60 unique Shenton names. Most of the additions are in England, and of the Nathanial line, primarily in Lancashire County. Much of this work ties in with recent efforts on the Shenton One-Name Study effort. Additionally, there are a number of updates to the French line in Australia - as there was a strong family tradition of French children to carry Shenton middle names for several generations. New sources included in this report are 286-305.

    The Shenton One-Name Study is a separate and distinct effort based on the Shentons enumerated in the UK Censuses of 1841-1901. Malcolm Street and I have initiated a project to publish the names and data on every Shenton in those Censuses, and - to the maximum extent possible - expand and link the people and households across the Census decades and the family generations. There are approximately 12,000 Shenton enumerations in the seven Census reports, so this is a massive undertaking. We are proceeding county by county, using 1851 as the starting point for each county, and have completed the first pass of Staffordshire and Derbyshire and much of Lancashire to date. While the end result will be a help in my and Malcolm's individual research efforts, it should be a very significant resource for anyone conducting research on Shentons of England. We're using a new web site specifically for this effort: Shenton - One Name Study. At this time, we have over 1,600 Shentons on the site; some are "connected" and extended across the Census years and some remain to be addressed. Wish us luck and, once we get going and get the site fairly well populated, we'll welcome comments and especially contributions.

    Yet another Shenton genealogy research effort is the establishment of the Shenton Y-DNA Surname Project. See the link above for information, links to the detailed web site, and information on how to participate. Come jump into the Gene Pool ! Volunteers are Needed !

  • 14-May-2007 (Report 032). Additions to this site since 13 January 2007 (Report 031) are modest, as I've been devoting most of my time to the "Shenton UK Project" (see next paragraph). Areas of additions include expansion and fix-ups in the line of Randle Shenton, some of the connections between Shentons and Frenches and Wales, and some expansion on the Shentons in Africa. As a result of temporarily focusing on the UK Project, I am again somewhat behind in responding, analyzing and incorporating some of the material that I've received from contributors - I hope to get back to it shortly. New sources included in this report are 280-285.

    The UK Censuses - 1841-1901 - contain quite a number of Shenton-surnamed entries, which beg to be "pulled together" into a more cohesive form. So two of us - Malcolm Street and I - have started a Shenton UK Project, with the eventual goal of such a "pulling together". Analysis of all the published UK Censuses shows that about half of all the Shenton-surnamed people enumerated are in the county of Staffordshire (STS). While this may or may not indicate STS as the "ancestral source" of all the Shentons in England, it is certainly the obvious place to start any serious effort of trying to pull together all the Shentons. Therefore our starting point is the Shentons in Staffordshire, using the UK 1851 census (about 550 Shenton entries) as our reference point. We're using a new web site specifically for this effort: Shenton - One Name Study. At this time, we have over 1,400 Shentons on the site; some are "connected" and extended across the Census years and some remain to be addressed. Wish us luck and, once we get going and get the site fairly well populated, we'll welcome comments and contributions.

    Addendum as of 7-Jul-2007: A Shenton Y-DNA Surname Project has been established. See the link above for information, links to the detailed web site, and information on how to participate. Come jump into the Gene Pool !

  • 13-Jan-2007 (Report 031). Additions to this site since 25 November 2006 (Report 030) reflect the continued mapping of Shentons to the various UK Census files from 1841-1901, but primarily significant updates - additions and corrections - to the "Randles lines", starting with John Shenton (1765) and Catherine Appleton (ca 1776), heavily in the Lancashire area of the UK. This work has been possible due to the efforts and collaboration of a number of people with direct relation to that line - thanks again Derek, Eric, Geoffrey, John, Kim, and Ray. This includes a sizable contribution of solid documentation - certificates and registrations of births, marriages and deaths. I'm sure I've still got a few self-induced glitches in the data, so feel free to correct me where I've missed something. New sources included in this report are 246-279, mostly related to the Randles line.
  • 25-Nov-2006 (Report 030). Additions to this site since 16 September 2006 (Report 029) were primarily fixing and tweaking, some additional mapping of Shenton families into the UK Censuses, but no major revelations or solutions to significant mysteries. Most changes was on Shentons in the Derbyshire area, some in Australia, and a few who emigrated to South Africa. New sources included in this report are 236-245.
  • 16-Sep-2006 (Report 029). Additions to this site since 24 July 2006 (Report 028) relate primary to clearing up some old gaps and minor mysteries (identifying some TBD spouses), and additional mapping of Shenton families into the UK Censuses. Added another 30 people, including 14 Shentons. Solved one significant mystery not reflected in the database: confirmed, based on circumstantial but credible evidence, that the famous Captain John Shenton (1612-1699) is NOT a direct ancestor of Nathanial Shenton (see the updated paper), so extension of the line into the 1600's is still an open challenge. New sources included in this report are 229-235, mostly in Staffordshire.
  • 24-JUL-2006 (Report 028). The major additions to this site since 21 April 2006 (Report 027) are primarily associated with extensive mapping of the Shenton entries in the UK Censuses of 1881, 1891 and 1901 to the Shenton families in the database, plus a few from the 1841 Census. In the process, I solved a few minor mysteries, added a goodly number of new Shentons and relatives, corrected a few minor glitches, and found a few more minor mysteries (anyone have any info on Shenton emigrations to South Africa in late 1800's and early 1900s ?). New sources included in this report are 216-228.
  • 21 Apr 2006 (Report 027). Recent additions to this site since 24 Feb 2006 (Report 026):
    • Addition of the third 'England 1700' line (about 200 people);
    • Addition of the Eastern Shore of Maryland line, specifically Dorchester County (about 35 people); and
    • A pretty solid effort to map Shenton entries in the early UK Censuses (1851, 1861, and 1871) to Shenton families in the three England lines, which resulted in a few additions to families (and a few raging ambiguities).

    Also, I finally updated the Descendant Charts, to bring them up to date and to reflect the four lines. No significant progress on the "Captain John Shenton" mystery - the PDF paper and other materials are still available on this site (see the link map above). New sources included in this report are 212-215.

  • 22-Feb-2006 (Report 026). Recent additions to this site since 23 Jan 2006 (Report 025) relate mostly to filling in odds and ends of England Shentons, primarily in the Nathanial line, mostly as a result of converting "family recollections" (my code for reported but unverified data) into sourced items. Still no major updates based on detailed analysis on the available UK Census data for 1851-1901; that's an incomplete task. A new area of investigation is the possible extension of the Nathanial line back to a Capt. John Shenton in early 1600's. A paper, in PDF format, addressing several issues and conjectures relating to Capt. John Smith, Nathanial Shenton, and possible earlier ancestors, was initially posted in January. The paper is posted to solicit inputs and assistance in resolving the "mystery" of the Captain. The brief paper references some supporting documents which are also contained on the site. New sources included in this report are 192-211.
  • 23-Jan-2006 (Report 025). Recent additions to this site since 30 May 2004 (Report 024) relate mostly to filling in more blanks and gaps in the Thomas Shenton line, with most data focused on descendants of that line in Australia. There is also additional data on the England Shentons, based on incomplete efforts to take advantage on the on-going publishing of the UK Census data for 1871, 1891 and 1901, with more to come as I get a chance to work more with the 1851 and 1861 Census and other material from correspondents. A new area of investigation is the possible extension of the Nathanial line back to a Capt. John Shenton in early 1600's. New sources included in this report are 183-191.
  • 30-May-2004 (Report 024). Recent additions to this site since 20 March 2004 (Report 023) relate mostly to filling in a lot of blanks and gaps in the Thomas Shenton (1698) line, with most data focused on descendants of that line in Australia and New Zealand - Shentons everywhere ! There is also some data on the England Shentons, based on early efforts to take advantage on the on-going publishing of the UK Census data for 1871, 1891 and 1901. New sources included in this report are 177-182.
  • 20-Mar-2004 (Report 023). Recent additions to this site since 29 April 2003 relate primarily to the addition of a bunch of descendants of John Shenton (1765), son of Samuel Shenton (1729) (thanks, "P2003"). Made some corrections based on better data. One premaining ambiguous area is the "siblings" of the original Thomas Shenton (1698) line: while the sibling set is real, I have been unable to confirm that the Thomas of the set is actually the same Thomas who married Hannah Chawner and founded the line. For now, the site maintains the assumption that they are one and the same. Additionally, I've added some new entries and some updated facts from initial work with the 1891 UK Census data. New sources included in this report are 169-176.
  • 29-Apr-2003 (Report 022). Recent additions to this site since 14 March 2003 relate primarily to the addition of the entire Thomas line (Thanks, "J") and the restructuring of the site - including "Ancestral Shenton" - to accommodate the two parallel lines. Additionally, there have been a number of updates and additions regarding Elizabeth Shenton (1828-1893) and the Shenton connection with the Coulson, Hazzledine, and Hickling surnames, as well as resolution of a bit of mystery regarding the emigration of Henry Shenton (1836-1862) to the U.S. (Thanks, "M"). New sources included in this report are 152-168.
  • 14-Mar-2003 (Report 021). Recent additions since 01-Dec-2002 include some updates on earlier generations in England, based mostly on microfilm/microfiche records. This includes corrections to the identities of several Shenton spouses from that provided in the original material: Mary Hollins instead of Wollins, and Isabella Hattersley instead of Walsersley. Some additions and updates - with more source material - are added, mostly in the late 1700's period. New sources reflected in this report are 143-151.
  • 01-Dec-2002 (Report 020). Recent additions since 09-Sep-2002 include substantial documentation on the Berks County, Pennsylvania branches of the Shenton family (e.g., William Seward Shenton), some specific details of marriages and births of some England Shentons (based on actual vital records copies requested based on searches in the new FreeBMD web site), and a number of new uncles and aunts of Edward Shenton - formerly listed as "Unknown 8 children Shenton" - based on christening entries in the FamilySearch.org web site. I've ordered a number of microfilms and microfiche which document these, and many other entries.. New sources reflected in this report are 113-142.
  • 09-Sep-2002 (Report 019) . Recent additions since 17-AUG-2002 include a lot of information derived from the U.S. Census records for 1910, 1920 and 1930. This provides a modest number of new names, but primarily validity and confirmation of existing data. You can see specific examples of the Census data in the Personal Sheets for many people. In conjunction with the Census data there's an additional focus on ancestors in counties near Lehigh County, PA - Berks and Montgomery Counties - and more information on the descendants of COL Henry "Harry" Shenton. And there's lots more Census data yet to glean. New sources 104-112.
  • 17-Aug-2002. Recent additions since 14-JUL-2002 include:
    • the addition of photos (more coming, as soon as I get a little smarter on graphics-mangling) on some key Shentons;
    • incorporation of new data on some former Slatington/Slatedale residents, based on some significant obituaries (new Sources 97-99) I received from a correspondent; and
    • a lot of new information on a former "mystery Shenton" - Colonel Harry A. Shenton, the adopted son of Francis. I had little info about Harry until I received a wealth of key data - spouses, children, dates, and even an obituary - from an actual relative of Harry's. This led me to some other follow-up material, including an 1880 Census item I hadn't been able to connect up until now. (new Sources 100-103). Lots of new Shenton relatives !
  • 14-Jul-2002. Recent additions since 02-Jun-2002 are primarily a result of two events: the receipt of a 15-page document titled "The Shentons and the Hughes of Slatedale, PA" by a granddaughter of Francis Shenton (see Source #71) and a personal visit to Lehigh County, including the library of the Lehigh County Historical Society, one of the area cemeteries, and several former homes of my grandfather. One obvious result of this is the jump in the number of sources from 61 to 92 ! Key additions include documentation on many marriages (sources 77-83 and 86), numerous baptisms (source 85), extensive cemetery records (sources 84 and 92), and several naturalization records (sources 87 and 91). Two specific results are the identification of the date of Francis' arrival in the United States (his initial application for naturalization shows his arrival as March 1850 in New York, but does not identify the ship in which he arived) and the surprise that Francis had an adopted son (Harry Shenton) who was a Colonel in the Civil War.
  • 2-June-2002. Recent additions since 04-Apr-2002 are mostly modest updates to the George Creamer Shenton line, as a result of information in "Aunt Jane's Family Tree" (see source #52). Also, some extensions of non-Shenton lines (Francis, Schaeffer, and Letourneau surnames), based on new sources including more 1880 U.S. Census records. One current quest is for Francis' naturalization records, which might help to nail down his original arrival (when and how and where) into the U.S. about 1850.
  • 4-April-2002. Included updates as a result of working with the 1881 British Census, especially data in the Derby area of the English Midlands, where Francis came from. The Census records reflect 69 persons with the Shenton surname, and I've been able to map 23 of them to people already in this Shenton database, plus some other "probables" which I'm still reviewing. Overall, the Census (as published on a set of CD-ROMs) reflects a total of 1,923 Shentons in the UK in 1881 -- that's a lot of potential relatives !
  • 6-March-2002. Extended backward in time from Samuel (abt 1755 - ) through Samuel (abt 1729 - ), Nathaniel (abt 1697 - ) to "Unknown Shenton" (abt 1675 - ); expanded the original Descendant Chart into two charts; and added more specifics on descendants of George Creamer Shenton (1852 - ).
  • 19-February-2002. Added Samuel and Elizabeth (abt 1755 - ); expanded on Edward's daughter Ann Shenton (1830-1882); expanded on Edward's son Francis (1826-1897) and especially on Francis' son George Creamer Shenton (1852 -).