Shattles Cemetery Marker (photo courtesy of Amanda Johnson)
The Colliers and Shattles were both prominent families in Middle Georgia during the 1800s. In the early part of the century, as the counties were formed from Indian territory, these families were among the early settlers. In Upson County, Robert Collier settled near The Rock, while brother Isaac farmed west of Thomaston near the Flint River. A third brother, Cuthbert, claimed land in adjacent Monroe County, where he eventually built a rail station. The Shattles families lived in an area which, at the time, was near the Upson-Monroe county line. Much of that area in Monroe County was made part of Lamar County in 1920.
Historically, the Shattles line has only been traced back to about 1772 with the birth of George Washington Shattles. Prior lineage is lost in the fog of time, possibly because, as family legend holds, Shattles may not have been the original name. I find it interesting that an infant would be named George Washington in 1772, four years before the Declaration of Independence. Of course, in 1772, the original George Washington was a hero of the French and Indian War and was part of the social and political elite of the colony of Virginia. It is entirely possible the future Father of Our Country had his admirers before becoming President. Still, it seems odd the Shattles line could only be traced back to a man named at birth for someone who had not yet achieved his greatest prominence.
The information about the Shattles family comes to CHF primarily from the work of Joel Shattles, Sr., who is now deceased. Beginning in about 1998, Joel, along with his son, Joel, Jr., began tracing their family history. A bound, unpublished history of the Shattles Family was produced in 2000.
Joel Shattles, Sr. Speaks at the Shattles Family Reunion 2003
There were at least two Collier-Shattles marriages. It is not the intent here to discuss the entire Shattles line, but to focus on the Collier-Shattles connections.
The aforementioned George Washington Shattles was born in Pennsylvania. He married his wife, Barbara (maiden name unknown), in about 1791 in North Carolina. George died about 1859 in Upson County, Georgia. Both are thought to be buried in a portion of Upson County that was later carved off and made a part of Pike County.
The first child of George and Barbara was John Richard Shattles, who was born in 1772 in North Carolina. John Richard also took a “Barbara” for his wife in 1811. John and Barbara had seven children; the first was born in North Carolina, the rest in Georgia. Information from a page in a family Bible tells us John Shattles died May 13, 1869, and Barbara Shattles died the next month on June 15.
The fifth child born to John and Barbara Shattles was another George Washington Shattles. This George Washington was born about 1821 in Monroe County, Georgia. He married Lucinda Kennedy September 6, 1840 in Monroe County. George died June 4, 1857 in Upson County. Lucinda’s date of death is given as 1896. Both are buried in the Shattles Cemetery in Lamar County.
George Washington Shattles Marker (Father of Francis Ann Shattles, Who Married Robert Terrell Collier)
Lucinda Kennedy Shattles Marker (Mother of Francis Ann Shattles, Who Married Robert Terrell Collier)
George and Lucinda had nine children. The eldest was Francis Ann Shattles, born July 18, 1841. On November 17, 1859, Francis Ann married Robert Terrell Collier, son of Williamson Collier and grandson of Vines Collier.
George Washington Shattles, Father of Francis Ann Shattles and Grandfather of Absalom Terrell Collier
About 1884, Robert Terrell and Francis Ann moved to Texas and settled in Nacogdoches County, founding the East Texas branch of Vines Collier descendants. Both Robert Terrell and Francis Ann or buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Upshur County, Texas.
Grave Markers of Robert Terrell Collier and Francis Ann (Shattles) Collier, Upshur County, Texas
Eleven children were born to the union of James and Ann Shattles. The second born, and the first male, was given the family name of George Washington Shattles. This George Washington was born December 5, 1849 in Monroe County, Georgia. George married Mary Delonia Collier on April 24, 1871 in Upson County, Georgia. He died February 17, 1899 in Gordon County, Georgia. Mary Delonia passed away in 1916. Both George and Ann are buried in West Union Baptist Church Cemetery in Gordon County , Georgia.
Mary Delonia (Collier) Shattles at the Wedding of her Son, James Thomas Shattles, to Dorothy Irvin in 1902
Mary Delonia Collier was the daughter of Isaac Peterson and Martha (Dickens) Collier. The military service of Isaac Peterson Collier is discussed further in this CHF post dated August 18, 2018 and entitled “Nothing But My Duty” (Click Here). Mary Delonia’s paternal grandparents were Charles Vines and Rebecca (Owen) Collier. More information on the Confederate service of the Sons of Charles Vines collier, Sr. and Rebecca Owen Collier and Rebecca is discussed in a post of September 14, 2015 (Click Here) Vines and Elizabeth (Williamson) Collier were her great-grandparents.
Some interesting trivia:
The Shattles Cemetery is located in Lamar County, on a well-known historic farm known as Sugar Hill. Sugar Hill is now owned by Collier descendants.
The Shattles Cemetery is in a portion of Lamar County that was carved off from Monroe County when Lamar was created. The area is known as the Redbone Community. It is thought Native Americans referred to the area as Redbone because of the large number of red fox squirrels they found in the area.
William Merrill Collier, half-brother to Robert Terrell Collier, died sometime around 1870. He was buried in the Redbone Community.
In 1925, J C Collier had the remains of William Merrill Collier exhumed and re-interred in the Collier Family Lot at Greenwood Cemetery in Barnesville Click here for related post.
The first born son of George Washington Shattles and Mary Delonia (Collier) Shattles was named Pascal Smith Collier. For a discussion of the name of Pascal Smith see this post (click here).
Joel Shattles, Sr., was the grandson of George Washington and Mary Delonia (Collier) Shattles. His great-grandfather was Isaac Peterson Collier.
This picture, taken in 2001, includes some of the Shattles family at the cleanup of the Isaac Collier Cemetery. See the post about the event by clicking here.
