Shadrack Sexton

Shadrack Mashack “Shade” Sexton (1830 – Nov. 30, 1864) was a Union soldier from Scott County who died in the Civil War.

See Also: Scott Countians killed in war

Biography

Born in 1830, Shadrack “Shade” Sexton was the son of Moses Sexton (1791-1850) and Leander “Laura” Hatfield (1795-1860). Both of his grandfathers were Revolutionary War veterans who moved to present-day Scott County after the war: Timothy Sexton and Joseph Hatfield.

Shade’s siblings included Rebecca Phillips (1823-1905), Aaron Sexton (1826-1894) and Julian Sexton (1828-1917). Other siblings included Andrew Sexton, Caswell Sexton, Fountain Sexton, Hiram Sexton, James Sexton, John Sexton, Levi Sexton, Pernetta Sexton and Ransom Sexton.

Shade married Nancy Thompson (1828-1884) on July 5, 1849 at Brimstone. Their children included John Blagburn Sexton (born 1851), Creacy A. Sexton (born 1852), Tazwell Sexton (born 1854), James L. Sexton (born 1859) and Herman Francis Sexton (born 1860).

Civil War

Shade enlisted in the Union army on March 21, 1862 at Flat Lick, Ky. He was assigned to Co. H, 2nd Tennessee Infantry. He died of smallpox at Clinton, Tenn. on Feb. 26, 1864. He was reported to be in Confederate custody when he died.

Shade’s brother, Julian Sexton, also served in the Union army. He was a corporal in Co. C, East Tennessee National Guard, and served from Sept. 15, 1863 to Dec. 14, 1863. Another brother, Fountain Sexton, served in Co. C, 7th Tennessee Infantry during the war. He was one of the many deserters from the regiment.

Aftermath

It’s not clear where Shade Sexton was buried. His widow, Nancy, received a pension beginning in 1866. She did not remarry, and died in 1884. It’s unknown where she was buried.