Daniel Shotts and Mary Bishop Shotts of Ross County, Ohio – 12 for ‘26

Working on the Shotts family for September. The first post was about Catherine Shotts who married Amos Gorrell. Her parents were Daniel Shotts and Mary Ann Bishop.[1] This post will be about what I know about them.

According to the Find a Grave memorial, Daniel was born on 23 February 1804 in Augusta County, Virginia.[2] The tombstone photo is very worn is difficult to read. It gives his death date of 9 Oct 1875 and the age at death of 71 years, ? months, and 18 days. However, a reading done perhaps in 1993 gave the age of death as 71 years, 7 months and 16 days.[3] This calculates to a birth of 23 February 1804.[4]

Census records are consistent for his birthplace of Virginia; however, they are silent on the county. He was 46 in 1850,[5] 56 in 1860,[6] and 65 in 1870.[7] Perhaps the source for the county came from the book, Ross County, Ohio Early Families, Volume II. The bio for the Shotts-Wagoner family states “all children born in Augusta County, Virginia except Susanna who was born in Ross County, Ohio.”[8] If their son, Jonas, the next to the last child, was born in Virginia on 17 Sep 1809 and Susanna was born in Ross County on 20 October 1811, then the family moved to Ohio between the two dates.

The first mention I have found of Daniel in Ross County records was the Letters of Administration given to him for the estate of David Shotts in October 1825. The widow relinquished her right of administering the estate. Robert Bishop and Isaac Jordan were his securities in the penalty of $400.[9] Nothing in the estate records named the wife, or stated that Daniel was David’s son. According to the above biography, David Shotts was Daniel’s father.

In 1829, Daniel was taxed in Huntington Township for three horses and three cattle.[10]

Daniel’s household in 1830 consisted of two men age 20 to 29, four females 15 to 19, and two females 20 to 29.[11] If his father died in 1825, then one would expect his mother to be in the household in the 60-69 column. The contemporarily aged members were likely his siblings. Perhaps she was living with another child.

Daniel married Mary Ann Bishop on 28 March 1831 by Pleasant Thurman.[12] Although their marriage did not state this, but later marriages listed Pleasant as minister of the M.E. Church and also as a Justice of the Peace.

He continued to be taxed for horses and cattle in 1830 and 1831 and afterward he had fewer horses and cattle and his mother, Mary Shotts was also taxed for horses and cattle, suggesting he moved out of his parents’ home after being married.[13]

On 1 April 1831, the heirs of David Shotts sold the 290 acres of land to their siblings Daniel and Jonas Shotts. These heirs were Catharine Shotts of Ross County, Elizabeth Shotts of Medina County, Jacob Bishop and Margaret Bishop his wife late Margaret Shotts, Hannah Shotts, Mary Shotts, Amos Bishop and Sophia his wife late Sophia Shotts and Susanna Shotts of Ross County. This land was located on the waters of Crooked Creek in Huntington Township.[14] However, it is strange that the heirs of David Shotts were paying tax on the land well into the late 1830s.[15] Perhaps the tax collector continued recording Daniel and Jonas as the heirs of David Shotts.

In 1840, Daniel and Mary Shotts each led a household. Daniel’s household had two males under 5, one male 30-39, one female under 5, two females 5-9, and one female 30-39.[16] Mary’s household had only females, one each in the age ranges of 20-29, 30-39, and 60-69.

In 1844, Daniel and Jonas were delinquent for nonpayment of taxes on the 290 acres of land on Crooked Creek. They owed $20.49.8.[17]

Finally in 1850, we see the members of Daniel’s household. Besides Daniel and Mary, the children were:

Martha, 18
Catherine, 16
David, 14
Eliza, 12
George, 10
Sarah, 4.

His mother, Mary lived next door, with Mary, 47, and Arizona, 27.[18]

In that same year, Daniel Shots was listed in the agricultural schedule twice, once in Twin Township and the other time in Huntington Township. The Twin farm consisted of 44 acres of improved land, valued at $1320. He had $50 value of farming implements and machinery. His livestock consisted of 3 horses, 3 milch cows, 6 sheep, 50 swine, valued at $292. He raised 1500 bushels of Indian corn, 20 pounds of 20, 75 bushels of Irish potatoes, 300 pounds of butter, 12 tons of hay. He earned $52 in home-made manufactories and $45 in animals slaughtered.[19]

The Huntington Township farm consisted of 45 acres improved, 99 acres unimproved, worth $1000, $20 farming equipment. For livestock, he had 2 horses, 4 milk cows, 4 cattle, 20 sheep, 20 swine, valued $205. He raised 600 bushels Indian corn, 200 bushels oats, 60 pounds of wool, 40 bushels Irish potatoes, 300 pounds of butter, and 6 tons of hay. He had also $36 of homemade manufacturers and $40 of slaughtered animals.[20]

Huntington and Twin Townships are adjacent to each other. There was no Daniel Shotts listed in the population schedule in Twin Township, so is it possible that part of Daniel’s land lay in Twin and part lay in Huntington, and his residence was located in Huntington.

In 1860, Daniel continued living in Huntington Township with real estate worth $2500 and personal property worth $600. The household makeup consisted of:

Daniel, 56
Mary A, 55
David C, 23
Eliza E, 22
George W, 30
Sarah E, 14,
George Bishop, 13

David C and George W were farm laborers. Sarah and George Bishop attended school. There was a mark that Daniel couldn’t read and write.[21] Looking back at the 1850 census, there was also a mark that he could not read or write.

In 1870, Daniel’s household in Huntington Township was made up of the following people:

Daniel, 65
Mary A, 63
David, 34
Sarah E, 23
Martha Marshal, 38
David E, 12
Urebell, 9

For occupation, David “works on the farm” and Sarah “helps mother.” Martha’s entry said “lives with father.” David E Marshall was a farm laborer and Urebell attended school. This is highly unusual that relationship was mentioned in this census. Mary was Sarah’s mother and Daniel was Martha’s father.

Daniel’s real estate was worth $3000 and his personal property $500. There were no marks for Daniel not being able to read or write.[22]

Daniel lived five more years, dying on 9 October 1875.[23] He was buried at Denver Cemetery in Ross County.[24]

His widow, Mary A., lived with her son, David C. Shotts, in 1880. She was 75 years old and her unmarried daughter, Sarah, also lived with David.[25]

On 1 September 1885, Mary A. Shotts, Martha S. Woods, and D.C. Shotts with wife E.A. Shotts sold 145 acres of the survey no. 9099 to George Easterday.[26]

In 1893, an article in the Chillicothe Daily Gazette named the oldest members of the community. Mrs. Mary Shotts was listed as being born in 1806 and said she’d be 88 in January. “Mrs. Mary Shotts, mother of Mr. D.C. Shotts, is able to build fires in an old-fashioned fireplace, and takes delight in having good fires when the folks come in the cold.”[27] In 1894, Mary’s sister, Elizabeth Timmons, died and left her entire estate to her three sisters, Susan Bishop, Hannah Shotts, and Mary Shotts, to be “enjoyed by them jointly during their natural lives.” At their death, the property was to pass to her nephew, David C. Shotts, who was the executor.[28]

In May of 1896, Mary Shotts fell and was in serious condition, having fractured her right hip. The physicians feared she would remain an invalid.[29]

Mary died at the age of 90 years at her home in Denver on 23 June 1896. She was buried from the M.E. church. The newspaper wrote “She was highly respected in the locality in which she lived, and had many warm friends in this city. She leaves a family of five children.”[30]

I found no evidence of a probate for Daniel nor Mary. He had a substantial amount of land but no sale was recorded near the time of his death. The land must have remained in the family and likely David C. Shotts, with whom Mary was living, continued farming it. The next post will cover some later land deeds by the heirs of Daniel and Mary.

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[1] Missouri State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death, #29020, Katherine Elizabeth Gorrell, 1918; imaged, “Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1969,” Missouri Digital Heritage (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1918/1918_00030160.PDF : accessed 2 Sep 2026); Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. “Catharine Elizabeth Shotts Gorrell,” My Trails into the Past (https://mytrailsintothepast.blogspot.com/2026/09/catharine-elizabeth-shotts-gorrell.html : published 3 Sep 2026).

[2] Find a Grave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15626565/daniel-shotts : accessed 13 Sep 2026), memorial 15626565, Daniel Shotts, photo added by Penny Cox Brown, citing Denver Cemetery, Ross Co, Ohio.

[3] Tombstone Inscriptions Huntington Township, Ross County Ohio (Ross County Genealogical Society, 1993), p. unk.

[4] Date Calculator, RootsMagic.

[5] 1850 U.S. census, Ross Co, Ohio, Huntington Township, p. 318 (stamped), dwelling 211, Daniel Shots.

[6] 1860 U.S. census, Ross Co, Ohio, Huntington Township, p. 419 (stamped), dwelling 108, Daniel Shotts.

[7] 1870 U.S. census, Ross Co, Ohio, Huntington Township, p. 708 (stamped), dwelling 203, Daniel Shotts.

[8] Ross County, Ohio Early Families, Volume II (Ross County Genealogical Society, 1979), p. 121-22; imaged, Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/rosscountyohiofa0000ross/mode/2up : accessed 12 Sep 2026).

[9] Ross Co, Ohio, probate, Testamentary Docket 1821-1828, p. 180, letters of administration to Daniel Shotts, David Shotts estate, 1825; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9QP-K3M7 : accessed 12 Sep 2026), IGN 005876821, item 2, image 109 of 191.

[10] Ross Co, Ohio, tax record, 1829, p. 150, Huntington Township, Daniel Shotts; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPPF-9Q8L : accessed 13 Sep 2026), IGN 004849260, item 1, image 163 of 318.

[11] 1830 U.S. census, Ross Co, Ohio, Huntington Township, p. 220, Daniel Shotts.

[12] Ross Co, Ohio, marriage register, v. C, p. 243, Daniel Shotts to Mary Ann Bishop, 1831; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-G2S5-YG : accessed 13 Sep 2026), IGN 004701436, image 189 of 394.

[13] Ross Co, Ohio, tax record, 1830, p. 163, Huntington Township, Daniel Shotts; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPPF-939N : accessed 13 Sep 2026), IGN 004849260, image 493 of 667. Ross Co, Ohio, tax record, 1831, p. 162, Huntington Township, Daniel Shotts; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PPX-35D : accessed 13 Sep 2026), IGN 004849155, item 1, image 170 of 320. Ross Co, Ohio, tax record, 1832, p. 164, Huntington Township, Mary Shotts and Daniel Shotts; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPPX-3S8 : accessed 13 Sep 2026), IGN 004849155, item 2, image 170 of 320.

[14] Ross Co, Ohio, deeds, v. 27, p. 104-05, Catherine Shotts, et al to Daniel & Jonas Shotts, 1831; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLX-PY39 : accessed 13 Sep 2026), IGN 008193284, image 67 of 580.

[15] Ross Co, Ohio, tax record, 1838, Huntington Township Virginia Military District, David Shotts heirs; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PPX-JL1 : accessed 13 Sep 2026), IGN 004849157, item 4, image 95 of 206

[16] 1840 U.S. census, Ross Co, Ohio, Huntington Township, p. 369 (stamped), Daniel Shots. Mary Shots was listed immediately after Daniel.

[17] “A List of Lands and Town Lots,” Scioto Gazette, 12 Dec 1844, p. unk.

[18] 1850 U.S. census, Ross Co, Ohio, Huntington Township, p. 318a & 318b (stamped), dwellings 211 & 212, Daniel Shots & Mary Shots.

[19] 1850 U.S. census, Ross Co, Ohio, ag. sched., Twin Township, first page, line 8, Daniel Shots.  

[20] 1850 U.S. census, Ross Co, Ohio, ag sched., Huntington Township, first page, line 18, Daniel Shots.

[21] 1860 U.S. census, Ross Co, Ohio, Huntington Twp, p. 419 (stamped), household 108, Daniel Shotts.

[22] 1870 U.S. census, Ross Co, Ohio, Huntington Twp, p. 708 (stamped), household 203, Daniel Shotts.

[23] “Died,” Scioto Gazette, Oct 1875, p. unknown.

[24] Find a Grave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15626565/daniel-shotts : accessed 13 Sep 2026), memorial 15626565, Daniel Shotts, photo added by Penny Cox Brown, citing Denver Cemetery, Ross Co, Ohio. The cemetery was visited in July 2016 but the Shotts stone was not located.

[25] 1880 U.S. census, Ross Co, Ohio, Huntington Township, ED 149, sht 14b, dwelling 131, D.C. Shotts.

[26] Ross Co, Ohio, Deeds, v. 99, p. 170, Mary A. Shotts et al to George Easterday, 1885; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTC-KST5-Q : accessed 18 Sep 2026), IGN 008330746, image 114 of 663.

[27] “A Venerable Quartette,” Chillicothe Daily Gazette, 13 Dec 1893, p. 4, col. 3.

[28] “Elizabeth Timmons’ Will,” Chillicothe Daily Gazette, 1 May 1894, p. 4, col. 2.

[29] “Her Condition Serious,” Chillicothe Gazette, 22 May 1896, p. 1, col. 1.

[30] “At the Age of Ninety,” Chillicothe Gazette, 26 Jun 1896, p. 4, col. 3.

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