Ironically, two (2) Shockley (unrelated) families settled in southern Delaware, one was related to Richard Shockley, the other was not. I have not been able to get back further than what MAY be my great-great grandfather. I say "MAY", because in the 1860 census, Geo W. Shockley, (I'm assuming George),born 1835, and married to a Hester Shockley (nee Bonsell), born 1838, had a two year old named Joseph T Shockley which is the name of my great grandfather, born February of 1859. The 1860 census in the Murderkill Hundred of Kent County, Delaware was taken in June of 1860, so technically, Joseph would have BEEN 2 on his next birthday, in February of 1861. Living with them was a 55 year old woman named Nancy Bonsell, whom I am guessing was Joseph's maternal grandmother. The problem comes 10 years later. In the 1870 census (now "South Murderkill, Kent County, Delaware"), there is no record of a Geo W. OR a Hester Shockley, but Joseph T Shockley is listed as an 11 year old, living with an 8 year old "Lottie J Shockley" (haven't a clue) and a 65 year old named Nancy Vonsler which I am convinced is a misspelling of the name Nancy "Bonsell" which was pretty common back then, especially when the resident had a heavy accent from their home country. A Swedish or German saying "Bonsell" could have easily been heard by the census taker as "Vonsler". Poof...name change! Anyway...who was the father of George W? When did he die? My grandfather told my uncle that his grandfather supplied horses to the Union Army during the civil war. Since I know his maternal grandfather (William W. Foster) WAS in the civil war, he could only have meant his paternal grandfather, George. Now, I'm STUCK

Ironically, two (2) Shockley (unrelated) families settled in southern Delaware, one was related to Richard Shockley, the other was not. I have not been able to get back further than what MAY be my great-great grandfather. I say "MAY", because in the 1860 census, Geo W. Shockley, (I'm assuming George),born 1835, and married to a Hester Shockley (nee Bonsell), born 1838, had a two year old named Joseph T Shockley which is the name of my great grandfather, born February of 1859. The 1860 census in the Murderkill Hundred of Kent County, Delaware was taken in June of 1860, so technically, Joseph would have BEEN 2 on his next birthday, in February of 1861. Living with them was a 55 year old woman named Nancy Bonsell, whom I am guessing was Joseph's maternal grandmother. The problem comes 10 years later. In the 1870 census (now "South Murderkill, Kent County, Delaware"), there is no record of a Geo W. OR a Hester Shockley, but Joseph T Shockley is listed as an 11 year old, living with an 8 year old "Lottie J Shockley" (haven't a clue) and a 65 year old named Nancy Vonsler which I am convinced is a misspelling of the name Nancy "Bonsell" which was pretty common back then, especially when the resident had a heavy accent from their home country. A Swedish or German saying "Bonsell" could have easily been heard by the census taker as "Vonsler". Poof...name change! Anyway...who was the father of George W? When did he die? My grandfather told my uncle that his grandfather supplied horses to the Union Army during the civil war. Since I know his maternal grandfather (William W. Foster) WAS in the civil war, he could only have meant his paternal grandfather, George. Now, I'm STUCK