Shelby, Evan, 1719-1794

Evan Shelby, a native of Wales, immigrated to America with his family when he was fourteen or fifteen and settled in Pennsylvania. His family moved to Maryland a few years later. Shelby acquired nearly 24,000 acres of land in that state and engaged in the Indian fur trade as well. He entered the militia in Maryland and fought in the French and Indian War. Following the war, Shelby served as a justice of the peace for a number of years. In 1773, having lost most of his Maryland land to settle debts incurred in the Indian trade, Shelby moved to Fincastle County, Virginia, becoming a farmer, merchant, and cattleman. He became an active militia officer again in Dunmore's War and the American Revolution. A change in state boundaries placed his property in North Carolina. Shelby was elected to its state senate in 1781. In 1786 Shelby was named brigadier general of militia in the Washington District of North Carolina. He retired the following year. Shelby's son Isaac twice served as governor of Kentucky and was the first to hold the position. Evan Shelby owned some Kentucky land granted to him for military service.