Benjamin was a son of Benjamin Woodbridge Shacklett and Elizabeth Ashcraft, both born in Pennsylvania and buried at Meadville Cemetery in Meade County, Kentucky.

Ben Wooley Shacklett was first married to Mary Kendall Aug. 9, 1826.

After Mary Kendall died, Ben next married Harriet Kendall.

From Scotland County, Missouri history; "Maj. B. W. Shacklett, a pioneer of Scotland County, was born in Hardin County, Ky., in 1805, where he was reared and afterward married. His wife, Mary Kendall, died in Sept, 1833, leaving two sons and two daughters. During the years 1844 and 1845 he was elected, and represented his county in the Legislature. In 1853, after his marriage to Harriet Kendall, they came to Harrison Township, and in 1879 to their present home. Besides 20 acres near Granger he also owns several farms in Scotland and in adjoining counties. His war service began in Green's regiment, at the organization of which he was made Major, and served throughout the war at that rank. After the first six months he joined the regular Confederate service. His sons, Eli and John, served throughout the Mexican War, and the latter died in Vera Cruz of sunstroke after the capture of that city, and the former died in Scotland County in 1883. Their daughter, Mrs. Ephraim Wilcox, died in 1879, leaving four children. The remaining daughter by his first marriage is Mrs. Sarah Miller. Jacob, William F. and Ben G. are children of his second marriage, as also was Eliza, the deceased wife of David Meriwether. The other children are Mrs. Elizabeth Hicks, Lydia, Mrs. Matilda Williams, and Fanny, who died when young. Our subject was reared as a Whig, but for many years has been identified with the Democratic party. John, the paternal great-grandfather, who was born in France, settled in Virginia about 1650. Of his three sons, Hezekiah, Edward, and John, the last named was the grandfather. He was married in Virginia to Barbara Quick, who came to America in her childhood, and served as a domestic in the family of Judge Fairfax, of Virginia, for several years, in order to pay her passage. They afterward moved to Pennsylvania, where he died, and which his wife and ten children afterward left for Kentucky. Benjamin, the father, was born in Pennsylvania on January 21, 1774, and there married Elizabeth Ashcraft, also a native of that state, by whom he had nine sons and four daughters, our subject being the seventh child. The father served as Major in the War of 1812, and the same year was promoted to Colonel. He was also elected and served in the Lower House of the State Legislature in the winter of 1816-17. He died in Kentucky at the age of sixty-four."