Before looking for family etc is the right family ??

United States Census, 1900
Name Isaac Shockley
Event Type Census
Event Year 1900
Event Place Civil District 2, Van Buren, Tennessee, United States
Gender Male
Age 35
Marital Status Married
Race Black
Race (Original) B
Relationship to Head of Household Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original) Head
Years Married 13 [married 1887]
Birth Date Feb 1865
Birthplace Tennessee
Marriage Year (Estimated) 1887 ******
Father's Birthplace Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace Tennessee

Isaac Shockley Head M 35 Tennessee
Amanda Shockley Wife F 27 Tennessee
Herman Shockley Son M 12 Tennessee
Nannie Shockley Daugh F 9 Tennessee
Henry C ShockleySon M 7 Tennessee
Castro Shockley Son M 5 Tennessee
James Shockley Son M 4 Tennessee
Marrion Shockley Son M 2 Tennessee

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Tennessee, Death Records, 1908-1958

Name: Amanda Elizabeth Shockley [Amanda Elizabeth Sparkman]
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 8 Mar 1872
Birth Place: Van Buren, Tennessee
Age: 42
Death Date: 21 Jun 1914
Death Place: Sparkman, Van Buren, Tennessee
Father's name: Ben Sparkman
Father's Birth Place: Van Buren, Tennessee
Mother's name: Prissy Rickman
Mother's Birth Place: White, Tennessee
Certificate Number: 135
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Do you know if Amanda was know as Mandy and was Isaac's middle name Clinton ??

TENNESSEE STATE MARRIAGE INDEX, 1780-2002
Name Mandy Sparkman
Event Type Marriage
Event Date 28 Mar 1887 ******
Event Place Van Buren, Tennessee, United States
Gender Female
Spouse's Name I C Shockley
Page 112

Thank you so much!! I don't know if Amanda was nicknamed Mandy or not, but since her mother was nicknamed "Prissy", that is a high probability. Also, it looks like she started having babies in July 1888, so that seems it would be a very reliable fit.

Her father Ben Sparkman, was born at the end of the Civil War and was the son of George "Squire" Sparkman, and one of the slaves on their farm, but sadly I have no idea what her name was. Are there any slave ownership records that survived from that time that I could research? I'm guessing that if there are, then perhaps there is a female slave listed of the right age. Squire and his wife Malissa had so many children that my hope is they did not have a lot of female slaves on the farm, and by process of elimination I may be able to find her.

I am so excited about what you found for me, and appreciate it very much. What a great service you have provided me.

Sally

Is there a census that would list the Sparkman farm with all it's inhabitants and the nearby farms? It may be that Prissy met Ben because their farms were adjacent. I understand that Ben is buried in the Sparkman family cemetery, so they all stayed in the area. At any rate, if there are some places you could point me to where I can look to see if I can find out anything - or hopefully any pictures - that would help me fill in any of the gaps, it would be wonderful. I have family pictures of Squire and his wife and many of his children, but nothing with Ben included, which makes sense considering the time. Once Amanda married Issac Shockley and started having her own family, I really do hope there are some records and photos or paintings or something that still exist.

I'm sorry. I got so excited that you found her I neglected to answer your question and say "YES!" That's the right person.

I show more children for her than are listed here, though. What I have for her children is:
Herman 1888
Nannie 1891
Henry C. 1893
Clay 1895
Castro 1895
James 1896
Marrion and Mall 1899
Claud and Bennie 1903
Lena 1905
Lula 1907
Issac 1909

I just have years without any month/day information.

Hi Sally, You can email me directly at Ranishockley@yahoo.com or call my cell 773-715-1455. I have information on Shockley family.