Charity was born between January 1846 and January 1848 on the farm of her father and slave master, Sampson Jefferson Ainsworth. She continued to live with her mother on the Ainsworth place until after the Civil War.

A mulatto female child fitting Charity Ainsworth's description appears on the 1850 Slave Schedule for Smith County. This census which was taken in October shows that Sampson Ainsworth owned 1 mulatto female slave, age 25 (Martha Ainsworth); 1 mulatto female slave, age 5 (Charity Ainsworth); and 1 mulatto male slave, age 5 months (Louis Ainsworth).

A mulatto female matching Martha's Charity, age 14 is listed again on the 1860 Slave Schedule for Smith County, MS as a slave of Sampson Ainsworth. He owned one slave house. This census was enumerated on June 15, 1860.

Martha and the children match freedman, free negroes and mulattoes on the Jeff Ainsworth property in 1866 on the Mississippi State Census for Smith County.

The 1870 Census for Smith County listed Charity living in the household of her mother, Martha. The house is located near the farm of Sampson Ainsworth and quite possible the same cabin that he constructed for them on his property. She is listed as 24 years old, born in Mississippi and she cannot read or write.

The 1880 Census for Jasper County MS shows Charity, age 35, married to a George Shuck, age 26. The following children are listed in the household: Napoleon, age 8; Josephine, age 7; Martha, age 4; John, age 3; and Dock, age 1.

In June 1895, Charity Shelby purchased 160 acres of land in Jasper County near her brother and sister, Lewis and Susan, according to Land Office Records.
Acct #: MS2500_.351
Patentee: Shelby, Charity
Issue Date: June 27, 1895
Jasper County, MS

The information contained on the 1900 Jasper County, MS census shows very conflicting information for Charity's family. First, her age is off by 6 years. She indicates that she was married for 12 years. One of her children died between 1880 and 1900. Did George Shuck change his name to George Shelby or did Charity marry again? What happened to George Shuck? All of the children have taken the surname Shelby. The 1900 Federal Census for Jasper County, MS, shows the family living in Beat 1, Township 3, Halfords Schoolhouse District and enumerated on June 30, 1900 lines 94- 100, family 194 listed: Shelby, Charity - BF - Head - b. Jan 1839 - Age 61 - widow - married 12 yrs., 7 children - 6 living; Shelby, Josephine - BF - Dau - b. Dec 1875 - Age 24 - widow - married 0 yrs., 0 children; Shelby, Warren E. - BM - Son - b. Feb 1878 - Age 22 - single; Wilson, Doc - BM - Son - b. 1879 - Age 20; Ainsworth, Martha - BF - Mother - b. 1824 - Age 76 - widow - POB: NC - FPOB: VA - MPOB: VA; Gray, George - BM - grandson - b. 1892 - Age 9; and Gray, Piara - BM - grandson - b. 1897 - Age 2. Why did Dock now use the name Wilson?

1907-1908 - The list of Educable Children of Jasper County, MS living in the household of Charity Shelby are George Shelby, age 16, Piara Shelby, age 9, and guardian of Chester Myers, age 9.

The 1910 Census for Jasper County, Beat 1 shows Charity Shelby, age 60, mulatto female head of household. The farm is owned free and clear of mortgage. Living in the house are Dock, son, male mulatto age 28; George Shelby, grandson, mulatto male, age 17; and Piara Shelby, grandson, male mulatto age 12. Also living in the house are Unda Myers, age 56, a boarder; Arcola Myers, age 10; Chester Myers, age 8; and George Myers, age 6.

The 1912 list of Educable Children in Jasper County, MS (T3R11, p. 129) shows the following living with Charity Shelby: George Shelby, age 19 and Piara Shelby, age 13. By 1919 and 1920 the list of Educable Children of Jasper County, MS, shows the following children living with Charity Shelby: John Campbell, age 17; Willie Campbell, age 12; Mamie Campbell, age 9; and Ludie Campbell, age 7.

In January 1920, 72 year old Charity Shelby was living in the Halfords School House District of Jasper County, MS on the Louin-Paulding Road. She was a widow who owned her farm which was worked by her family. Charity could not read nor write. Living with her were her daughter, Josephine [Campbell] and three grandchildren. These grandchildren are Willie Campbell, age 11; Mamie Campbell, age 9; and Lillie Campbell, age 5. Also living in the home are P. A. [Piara] Shelby, age 21; Katie, age 16 (Piara's wife) and infant son, H. B., age 2 months.

By the spring of 1930, Charity was now 83 years old and living with grandson, George Shelby, age 23. She stated that her mother was born in West Virginia. In the home were other grandchildren: Maisie, age 16; William, age 14; and Anna, age 14.

Charity died between 1930 and 1940 in Jasper County, MS.

In 1870, George Shelby lived with his family at dwelling 351 in Paulding in the Southwest area of Jasper County. The head of this household was Ed Shuck, age 60, who appears to be old enough to be his grandfather. Household relationships were not indicated on this census. There was no wife in the home. George was 18 years old at the time of this census enumeration. In the home was Phillis, age 17; Willis, age 15; and Eliza, age 13. All the residents of this household were identified as Black. Alfred Shelby, age 65, who was most likely the former owner of this family, was living at dwelling 349.

The 1880 Census for Jasper County, MS shows George Shuck, age 26 and wife, Charity Shuck, age 35 living in District 110 at dwelling 119. In the household are several children: Napoleon, age 8; Josephine, age 7; Martha, age 4; John, age 3; and Dock, age 1. This census was taken in the July. Louis and Roxanne Ainsworth lived nearby at dwelling 127.

I am inclined to believe that George Shelby was the child of Alfred Shelby. Ed Shuck who cannot be found on any census records after 1870 may have been his grandfather. Charity and her children started using the surname Shelby sometime between 1880 and 1900. George Shelby, Charity's spouse, cannot be found on the 1900 census.

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