The Sellers Family of Lincoln and Cleveland Counties, NC

Philip Heinrich Söllers (1698?-1769) was descended from a family of butchers in Germany. He came to Philadelphia on board the ship the James Goodwill in 1728. Travelling with him were his wife and at least one small son, Philip (1724-17??). They settled near Telford, PA. According to the DAR, Philip was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He had many children; the two eldest were George and John.

George Sellers (1756-1839) and his brother John migrated to North Carolina during the 1790s. They settled in what was then Lincoln County and became farmers. John seems to have had no children (he left his property to his nephews), but George and his wife Susanna Best had several children. Two of their sons were also named George and John and have been the source of much confusion.

I no longer believe John Sellers (the younger) to be Eli's father. I now think that George Sellers, Jr. and Anna Mary Froneberger were his parents. Please see my page of speculation to see how I arrived at this conclusion. I also have a new page of census information and a partial roster of the Froneberger cemetery where George Sr. and many family members are buried.

In the 1850 Cleveland County census a Mary Sellers is listed as the head of a household. Living with her are several of her sons, including Eli (1819-1902). Eli did not marry until after the Civil War, in which he participated briefly. He was discharged due to rheumatism after about half a year - not surprising when you realize he was 45 when he enlisted. He married Martha Lackey (1844-1910) in 1868. She was 24 and he was 49.

Their son Thomas had a large family: thirteen children over a period of 27 years. Below is a picture of a family reunion from 1933.

Thomas F. Sellers and family in 1933 Joe Sellers Sloan Sellers John Carroll Helen Carroll Herman Dellinger Herbert Sellers J.L. Sellers Flay Dot Dellinger Walter Sellers Lester Dellinger Thomas Dellinger Margie Sellers Max Dellinger Dona Sellers Clarence Dellinger J.C. Dellinger Charles Sellers Mary Frances Sellers Mary Sellers Rita Sellers Harold Dellinger Clyde Sellers Thomas F. Sellers Laura Wright Webb Nell Sellers Aubra Brown Cora Etta Black Ernest Sellers Martha Sue Sellers James Carroll Shirley Sellers Edgar Sellers, Jr. Anna Lou Barkley Edgar Sellers Bryte Sellers Charles Carroll Robert Carroll Jesse Carroll Earl Sellers Worth Sellers Louie Sellers Louise Carroll Lorene Sellers Ruth Sellers Gladys Sellers Gertrude Carroll Ruby Dellinger Edna Sellers 1933 Thomas F. Sellers family reunion

Thomas Filetus Sellers and Family
circa 1933

Watch the status bar below for names and dates as you scroll over this picture, or just click on an individual to go directly to their genealogy. Everyone is linked to the gedcom.

Another version of this picture with families depicted is available here. I also have a picture of Thomas and family taken around 1904. These are both really cool!

Here's yet another family picture, this one from 1909. Thanks to Brenda Rutherford for getting me the picture.

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