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Note: William Strong Shrewder, second child of Robertson F. and Elizabeth Tabitha Shrewder married 15 year old Celia Ann Bradford from Tennessee January 30, 1861, in Yell County, Arkansas. On October 30, 1861, Celia Ann bears their child Thomas Fredrick Shrewder. William Shrewder joined the Confederate Army in 1861, but after some problems, left and joined the Union Army. Seems he went AWOL several time and apparently went home to check on his wife. On one occasion he was caught and returned to his infantry unit. They made him a scout and gave him a horse. William went AWOL again went home and then decided since he had a horse he would join the cavalry. Someone recognized him and they put him in the guard house for the first 4 months of 1865. He was then returned to his Infantry Unit camped in another Arkansas County. The unit he was assigned to again sent him out on scouting duty. (Here is where it gets involved).
According to some family accounts Celia Ann was a beautiful young girl and word had gotten back to William Shrewder that something was amiss. Needless to say, William Shrewder went AWOL again. He was killed near his home. According to military records he was killed by the "rebels." This being attested to by James Patterson, a Justice of the Peace (and William Alexander Pattersons, father). However, family records say he was killed by a neighbor who mistook him for the enemy (whoever the enemy was). This was in May of 1865.
Celia Ann married William Alexander Patterson in October of 1865. Now, considering that William Shrewder was in the guardhouse the first four months of 1865 and then returned to his unit before he was killed and his wife had a baby in 1865 (which was apparently not William Shrewder, because the baby was born in the latter part of 1865 and Celia Ann would not have had the opportunity to meet up with William during the approximate time of conception). And further evidenced by the fact that she (Celia Ann) attested in pension application papers that Thomas Fredrick was the only issue of her marriage to William Shrewder. And that when born , the child was shown as Albert Patterson.
Now, add to the above the fact that Thomas told some of his children that his step father was an illiterate fire brand preacher, that would beat him until he turned over his pension check to him. And, that Thomas agreed to turn over all of the pension monies to William Alexander Patterson, for the ability to leave home.
In a letter from one of William Alexander & Celia Ann Patterson granddaughters to one of Thomas Fredrick Shrewder granddaughters, she spoke of Albert as on older half-brother that died in a mine accident at a young age. This would lead one to believe that William Alexander and Celia Ann tried to pass Albert off as a half-brother to their other 6 kids, but, considering their was no other husband between Shrewder and Patterson should dispel that notion.
Now considering all facts and some hand me down stories, it appears that Celia Ann became enamored with Preacher Patterson and then became pregnant. That upon the arrival of William Shrewder back to his home area and finding out what was going on, was killed by William Patterson or one of his kin or parishioners and a story was made up to cover up the killing, and reported to the U. S. Army to prevent any investigation in William Shrewder death.
Most of the Patterson descendants acknowledge only 6 children by William Alexander and Celia Ann. None, accept Albert as a child of their issue, asserting that he must have been William Shrewders' son.
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