Hi,

Jim, thanks for that link.

I'm reviewing my versions and see at least seven from the Madison County area. If anyone (Mike Yates?) can shed some light on the informants it might help.

I have:

1. In Seaport Town (Sharp A, 1916) Miss Stella Shelton
2. In Seaport Town (Sharp B, 1916) Mrs. Martha Gosnell
3. In Boston Town (Sharp C, 1916) Mrs. Rosie Hensley
4. Lonesome Valley (Sharp MS, 1916) Mr. Sol Shelton
5. In Maple City (Sharp MS, 1916) Banner Chandley [Chandler?]
6. In Seaport Town (Sharp MS, 1916) Hester House
7. In Zepo Town (Cohen REC, c. 1963) Elisha Shelton

Jane Hick Gentry's version is not tied to the Shelton's as her version is probably from her grandfather's line (Council Harmon) - the Hicks/Harmon line.

As mentioned before most of the informants are descendants of Roderick Shelton b. 1754 in Virginia (attached). John Shelton, born 1732, son of Ralph, was the father of Roderick. Some of the Shelton singers line comes from Martin Shelton, who was Roderick's son. Martin Shelton Jr., who married Mary Franklin (his sons namesake) was the father of Franklin (also Frankland) B. Shelton, b. 1859. Prominent names in the Shelton line include Hensley, Franklin, and Haire.

Some of the locations in the region include Rice Cove, Shelton Laurel, Big Laurel, Alleghany, Allenstand, Spillcorn, Hot Springs and Sodom Laurel.

Here's some info from Mike Yeats: "Other related singers who sang to Cecil Sharp were Solomon Shelton, b.1841, of Carmen, who was a brother of Franklin B Shelton, and William Riley Shelton, b.1873, from Alleghany, who was known as 'the brag ballad singer'. Photo courtesy of Kriss Sands.Both Solomon, known as 'Sol', and Franklin B Shelton were distant cousins of Mary Sands, their great-grandmother being the same Cherokee Glumdalclitch as Mary's great-grandmother, but having different great-grandfathers." [From: A Nest of Singing Birds Cecil Sharp, Mary Sands and the Madison County Song Tradition]

One question specifically relates to Sol Shelton. It seems unlikely that Sol Shelton and William Riley Shelton are brothers born 32 years apart (see Yates excerpt). There are also at least 3 Sol Sheltons and several Franklin (also Frankland) Sheltons. It's been a while since I looked at this but it's not adding up. What then is Elisha Shelton's line?

It also seems that the Appalachian version are different than the Northern versions (Wehman, Douglas/Stevens; Michigan version). Why?

Richie