SHEPHERD PAGES

Descendants of Thomas Shepherd
of Ireland and New Jersey

Notice to all who venture here. The information found here may be changed from time to time. This is a work in progress and we welcome all information that will help solve this mystery-"Who are these people?" Nothing here is cast in stone. After reading some of the ongoing dialog from the past, we know how challenging this will be. The Shepherd's origin quest has been a subject of discussion for over one hundred years and probably even before that. So let us join the force of this new tool-the Internet- that those of the past didn't have to help in their research.

Distant rumors have it that there were five brothers of Welsh ancestry who went to or were born in Ireland and then came to settle in lower New Jersey. In 1683, five Shepherd brothers came to Burlington Co., N.J., from Clough-Keating, in County Tipperary, Ireland. Then they went to Shrewsbury in the Province of East Jersey. Four of the brothers settled along the Cohansey River, Salem Co., about 1690. They owned adjoining lands. They named the locality, Shrewsbury in remembrance of their first home in East Jersey.

In Ireland, these brothers were members of a Baptist Meeting at Clough-Keating, in County Tipperary. Their names were James, David, John, Thomas and Moses. We believe that Thomas Shepherd was the father of William Shepherd Sr. who settled Prince George County, Maryland. His brother, Moses Shepherd settled at Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ.

To thicken the plot, Isaac and John Van Meter and Jacob and Sara du Bois purchased large quantities of land in Salem Co. about 1714, at a place called Pilesgrove. This is Pilesgrove twp., not too distant from the Cohansey River valley in south central NJ. One of the brothers, William, moved to Maryland and the Van Meters, the first explorers of the Upper Neck of Virginia, settled in Virginia, across the Potomac River from the Shepherds. In this area of New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. is where our story begins.

  1. Thomas Shepherd, b. ca. 1650, d. ca. 1698, MD,
    married the dau. of Thomas Ellis
    1. William Shepherd Sr.,
      of Prince George County, Maryland
      b. ca. 1680, which is an estimated date., d. 1741/5,
      His wife was named Sarah, her surname believed to be Cochran. He was a carpenter.

      William Shepherd Sr. of Prince George County, Maryland and his wife Sarah sold 150 acres of land located "at the head of the Beaver Dam Branch that runneth out of the Eastern Branch of Potomack" (present day Anacostia River) with Sarah releasing her right to dower on 12 October 1717. William Sr. then bought a 150-acre tract named 'Charley Forrest' in Prince George County, Maryland from John Bradford on 18 December 1721 and sold the 150 acres renamed "Shepherds purchase part of land called "Charley Forrest" to James Brooke on 27 October 1739. Shown as Tract 21, Map 1 in the book "PIONEERS OF OLD FREDERICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA". Book by Cecil O'Dell, printed by Walsworth Publishing Company-1995-Marceline, Missouri. Sarah wife of William Shepherd, carpenter, released her right of dower and Joseph Chapline, Peter Rentfroe and John Shepherd were witnessees. William Shepherd Sr. and William Shepherd Jr. appeared on a "List of Taxables, 1733 Monocosie Hundred". Again listed on a list of "Those that had no tobacco burnt in Monoccosea Hundred August 1734". Probable son,William Shepherd Jr. was one of the petitioners for meeting houses to be erected to administrate in William's office as Presbyterian Minister of the Gospel in Orange County, Virginia in 1737. John Shepherd, filed a petition of dept against Lewis Thomas and Robert Worthington on 28 August 1742. John also filed a lawsuit against John Tredan on 13 January 1743/44 and is mentioned in a Frederick County Court Order on 9 March 1743/44 to "view a road from John Shepard's to head of Bullskin".

      1. William Shepherd Jr., lived at Rock Creek, MD
      2. John Shepherd, d. 1765, Frederick Co., MD
        1. William Shepherd
        2. Thomas Shepherd
        3. Nathan Shepherd
        4. Sarah Shepherd
        5. Drusilla Shepherd
        6. Margaret Shepherd
        7. unknown Shepherd
      3. Col. Abraham Shepherd, b. 1730/40, d. 1825,
        married Temperance Cory
        1. Johnathan Shepherd
        2. James Shepherd
        3. Temperance Shepherd
        4. Anna Shepherd
        5. Mary Shepherd
        6. Abraham Shepherd
      4. Mary Shepherd
      5. Captain Thomas Shepherd I, b. 1705,
        possibly in New Jersey, married 1733, probably at Monocacy,Maryland, an old "Post town", Elizabeth Van Meter, born 1715, daughter of Jan "John" Jansen Van Meteren and Margaret Mollenauer. She died 1793, Shepherdstown, Berkley Co., VA, buried Shepherd Family Cem., Shepherdstown, VA (now WV).
        Thomas died 1776, Shepherdstown, Berkley Co., VA, buried Shepherd Family Cem., Shepherdstown, VA (now WV).

        Thomas Shepherd Sr. was a man of vision and settled on the west bank of the Potomac River above the only fordable crossing in that section of the river. His land, 222 acres, was patented, Oct. 3, 1734. A little village grew on the west bank called "Pack Horse Ford", and was marked on the maps of the time as on the "Old Wilderness Road", the historic passageway to the territory to the West, used since ancient times by the Indians. Thomas Shepherd Sr. platted his town lots at this site and sold them the same as land developers do today. Thomas Shepherd purchased 457 acres from Lord Fairfax on 12 June 1751. This land was adjacent on the west of his patent land to present-day Mechlenburg Heights at John VanMeter's (Thomas's father-in-law) 1,786 acre land patent of 1734. (Tract 132, Map 2 of Cecil O'Dell's book). The land then runs south along VanMeter's east line to John Welton's 1734 patent of 442 acres at the southwest line. (Tract 23, Map 1 from Cecil O'Dell's book). On the east side of his patent land, Thomas purchased 50 acres from Richard Morgan's 155 acre Fairfax grant. Adjacent to this 50 acres, he bought 32 acres from Fairfax on 15 January 1768, east of today's Shepherdstown, about one-half mile along the edge of the Potomac River. Thomas Shepherd petitioned the Orange County Court on 26 February 1737/38 requesting to be discharged as constable-Sherundo as soon as Richard Morgan was sworn in his place. He built a grist mill and sawmill on his 222 acre patent land, and by 1776, he had a new mill erected on his 457 acre grant land. Permission to establish a ferry across the Potomac River was granted by an act of the Assembly of Virginia in October 1762 to Thomas and in November 1762 he was authorized to erect the town of Mechlenburg. After his death (in 1776) the name was changed by an act of the Virginia Assembly to Shepherdstown. The first lots in the town were sold on 21 July 1764.
        These were the times of George Washington, land surveyor and Virginia militiaman. Captain Thomas Shepherd Sr., based on the records, was an acquaintance of George Washington. Voting records for the election of the Commanding Officer of the Virginia Militia exist showing that Thomas voted for George to be Commanding Officer.

        His will was written 23 March 1776 and was proved on 20 August 1776. He bequeathed the sawmill and acreage to son William, the grist mill and acreage to son Thomas, the new mill and acreage to son John, the remaining land to son Abraham, two acres and house to wife Elizabeth, a Mechlenburg lot to grandson Thomas Thornburg and 100 pounds each to his daughters Mary, Sarah and Elizabeth plus lots in Mechlenburg to Susannah and fifty pounds to Martha.
        Elizabeth's will was written July 10, 1786, and was probated June 18, 1793. It is recorded in will Book #2 at Martinsburg, Berkley Co., WV. When Thomas, her husband, died, he left a large estate.

        Memorials to the Shepherd Family;
        Sons of the American Revolution marker In memory of Elizabeth Van Meter Shepherd, 1715-1792, wife of Thomas Sr.. A bronze plaque on the fence at the Shepherd Family Cemetery; In memory of Thomas Shepherd-1705-1776-founder of Shepherdstown-Early American Settler & Patriot. Father of five sons who served in the Revolutionary War. Placed by Lafayette Chapter,Sons of the American Revolution, Akron, Ohio.

        1. David Shepherd,b. Jan-1734.
        2. Sarah Shepherd, b. 1736,
          married Ca. 1751-52, Thomas Thornburg Sr., b. 17--, d. 1789, buried, Shepherd Family Cem., Shepherdstown, WV. SAR Memorial Marker.
          Sarah d. 2-Oct-1780, Shepherdstown, VA, (now WV). SAR Memorial Marker 1736-1780. In memory of Sarah Shepherd Thornburg, daughter of Thomas Sr.. Thomas: SAR Marker: In memory of Thomas Thornburg Sr., b. 17(33), d. 1789 husband of Sara.
        3. Elizabeth Shepherd, b. 2-Oct-1738, Shepherdstown, VA,
          married 3-May-1762, William Brown.
          Elizabeth d. 1788.
        4. William Shepherd, b. 1741
        5. Thomas Shepherd Jr., b. 1743. Memorial Grave Marker,
        6. John Shepherd, b. Jan-1749
        7. Mary Shepherd, b. 1752,Shepherdstown,VA,
          married 1st. John Feay, married 2nd Samuel Buchanan.
          Mary d. after 1787, Brooke Co., VA (now WV). Mary was a twin to Martha.
        8. Martha Shepherd, b. 1752, Shepherdstown, VA,
          married Oct-1771, Geo. McNabb.
          Martha d. 1825, St. Clairsville, Belmont Co., OH. Martha was a twin to Mary.
        9. "Captain" Abraham Shepherd, b. 10-Nov-1754.
        10. Susannah Shepherd, b. 1-Sep-1758, Shepherdstown, VA, d. 13-Apr-1835, married 27-Mar-1777, John Eoff.
        11. Isaac Shepherd, b. unk. He is named in the book " The Descendants of Louis Du Bois".
      6. Thomas Shepherd Jr., b. 1743. Memorial Grave Marker, Shepherdstown, WV
        married 1773, at Shepherdtown, VA, Susannah Hulse, b. ca. 1755, Shepherdstown, VA, daughter of Richard Hulse/Hultz/Holsaert and Mary Williams.
        Susannah d. 17-Nov-1839, Shepherdstown, VA, buried Shepherd Family Cem., Shepherdstown, VA.
        Thomas was a grist mill operator, having inherited one of his father's mills.
        Thomas d. before 16-Oct-1792, Shepherdstown, VA, buried Shepherd Family Cem., Shepherdstown, WV. SAR Memorial Marker.
        1. Thomas Shepherd III,b. 3-Nov-1774
        2. David Shepherd, b. 1777
        3. John Shepherd,b. 1780
        4. Joseph Shepherd,b. 10-Jul-1786
        5. Sarah Shepherd, b. 1788, Shepherdstown, VA,
          married Anthony Kearney
        6. Elizabeth Shepherd,b 1790
        7. James Shepherd,b. 1792
        8. Mary Shepherd, b. 1794, Shepherdstown, VA,
          married Francis Dailey
      7. David Shepherd, b. 1777, Shepherdstown, Berkley Co., WV,
        married 19-Jul-1803, at Chillicothe, Ross Co., OH, Elizabeth Betz, b. 8-Jan-1781, Falckner Swamp, New Hanover, Pa., daughter of Adam Betz and Margaret Forger?.
        She d. 1840-1850, Champaign Co., IL, buried Champaign Co., IL.
        David d. Ca. 1839, Champaign Co., IL, buried Champaign Co., IL.
        Information found about David; Pioneer Ohio Newspapers 1793-1810, by Kaen Mauer Green, The Frontier Press, Galveston, 1986. Page 198, Volume III, Saturday, 21 August 1802, No. 118: David Shepherd, in Chillicothe, reports the theft of a horse. Deliver to his brother, Thomas Shepherd, living in Shepherds-town, Berkely County, Virginia. Vol. V, Monday, 3 September 1804, No. 220. David Shepherd says he is a candidate for sheriff in Ross County (Ohio).
        John and David Shepard (sic-Shepherd) came to Muhlenberg twp., Pickaway Co., from Chillicothe, about 1807. Ref. Pickaway County History.
        From the History of Ross and Highland Counties, Ohio (published 1880) page 67, Sheriffs 1806, David Shepherd; 1808, William Creighton.
        Minute Book-Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace held at Chillicothe in the County of Ross. Fourth Wednesday in Sept. 1800.... Ordered that Jno Guthery recieve $12 for surveying road from Chillicothe to County Line & Saml. Davis & Wm. Marguis $9 each as viewers and Arch"d Guthery & Louis Dunlap each six dollars as chain carrers & David Shepherd six dollars as marker.
        He was an early sheriff of Ross Co., Ohio, 1805 & 1806, a surveyor, rancher, & tavern and inn keeper. He went bankrupt in Ross Co., and was given a 160 acre farm in Pickaway Co., by his old friend, the commanding officer of the militia that David had served under. He was an early settler of Pickaway Co., Ohio, and the Champaign-Urbana, area of Illinois. David Shepherd is mentioned in an early history of Champaign Co. as being one of the early pioneers to die a few years after settling in the county. His wife Elizabeth was the daughter of Adam Betz who was an owner of an iron forge in Pa. which washed away in a flood. He served in the Revolutionary war from Pa. He went with his family to Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio Terr., in the early 1800's. He was a tavern keeper and served as the door keeper at the territorial capital and courthouse in Chillicothe. When he died his obituary in the local newspaper was titled "The Last of The '76ers." It said he died happy but penneyless.
        1. John B.(Betz?) Shepherd, b. 22-Jun-1804.
        2. Eliza Shepherd, b. ca. 1806,
          married 15-Aug-1835, in Pickaway Co., OH, Elija Bethard.
        3. Mary Shepherd, b. ca. 1807, OH,
          married Daniel Hammer.
        4. James S. Shepherd, b. ca. 1811.
        5. Ellen Shepherd, b. ca. 1813, Darbeyville, Pickaway Co., Ohio, d. 17-Aug-1868, St. Joseph, Champaign Co., IL.
        6. Paris Shepherd, b. 6-Jun-1816, Darbeyville, Pickaway Co., OH,
          married 1st Eliza Jane Cherry,
          married 2nd 24-May-1840, at Champaign Co., IL, Sarah Moraine,
          married 3rd Mrs. Mary Arledge. Paris died 11-Jun-1901, Champaign Co., IL, buried Champaign Co., IL. County superintendent of schools for Champaign Co., IL, in the early years after the school system was established.
        7. Harvey Shepherd, b. 1818, OH, d. 6-Dec-1862, Urbana, Champaign Co., IL.
        8. Maria L. Shepherd, b. 29-May-1819, Darbeyville, Pickaway Co., OH,
          married 24-Aug-1841, at Champaign Co., IL, Fountain J. Busey, the son of Matthew Busey.
          Maria d. 2-Oct-1889, Champaign Co., IL.
      8. John B.(Betz?) Shepherd, b. 22-Jun-1804, Ross Co., OH (probably at Chillicothe),
        married 14-May-1840, Champaign Co., IL, Malinda Berkshire, b. 18-Oct-1819, Harrison Co., KY, the daughter of Mary (Polly) Elizabeth Brownfield and her father is unknown. Her mother was the widow of Greenbarry Berkshire Sr. She was adopted by Mary's 2nd. husband, Taylor Barton Sr. Malinda was born several years after her mother's first husband died. There is no proof of who her father was, but several of her descendants believe that it is quite possible that Taylor Barton who adopted her is actually her natural father. Theresa "Thurza" Ann Berkshire, Malinda's older sister, also born after Mary's first husband died, was not mentioned in Taylor Barton's will. Malinda was called "My adopted daughter" in Taylor's will and was listed first as Malinda Berkshire. She was raised in the Barton family until both parents died.
        Malinda d. 5-Jan-1901, Hartford, Warren, IA, buried at the cenetery, Hartford, IA.
        John d.20-Apr-1863, near Hartford, Warren, IA, buried at the cemetery at Hartford, IA
        John Shepherd left Pickaway Co., Ohio, in 1836, and went to Champaighn Co., IL, with his parents and siblings. John had ownership at one time of the E1/2 of SE1/4 of Sect. 10, in Vermillion County, IL. His brother, Paris Shepherd, owned the E1/2 of SW1/4 of Sect. 11. John was a tavern keeper and farmer in IL and farmed in Warren Co., IA. Proof that he came to Iowa before 1856 is in the 1860 census where his son John is the age of 5 years and was born in Iowa. John's Probate included a $10.00 cost for his coffin, and his estate included $35 due from the sale of a house in Virginia as part of his share of the Paris Shepherd estate probated in Champaign Co., IL.
        1. Angus L. Shepherd, b. 21-Dec-1840.
        2. Eliza Jane Shepherd, b. 10-Oct-1842, IL.
        3. Ann Maria Shepherd, b. ca. 16-Mar-1845, IL
        4. David Shepherd, b. ca. 1846, Champaign Co., IL,
          married Amanda (her surname unknown).
          Warren Co., IA, Deed book V, P.536: David Shepherd and Amanda Shepherd, his wife, $400 to Hibert Clark, in Warren Co. the east 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Sect. 24 twp. 77 R. 23 20 A & 4 A. in the undivided 60 of the east side of the west 1/2 of SE 1/4 of Sect.18-77- 23W. 21 March, 1867. Signed David Shepherd and Manday Shepherd. This 20 A. was just north and on west side of road across from Edd Clarks' 4 A. south of the Scotch- Ridge/Carlisle road, about 1/2 mile SE of the Scotch Ridge church. David served in the Civil War.
          David d. 20-Aug-1872, Warren Co., IA, buried Hartford, Iowa.
        5. Joseph B. Shepherd, b. 16-Sep-1849, Champaign Co., IL,
          married ca. 1880, Josephine Olivia (her surname is unkown), b. 17-Sep-1847, d. 26-Jan-1917, Rolfe, Pocahontas Co., IA, buried Mitchellville, Polk Co., IA. ref.; Powers Funeral Home, Rolfe, Pocahontas Co., IA, Record Book 1897-1988, Book 1, Number 551.
          Joseph d. 24-Jan-1927, Rolfe, Pocahontas Co., IA, buried at Mitchellville, Polk Co.,IA.
          ref.; Powers Funeral Home, Rolfe, Pocanontas Co., IA, Record Book, 1897-1988, Book 3, Number 211. Listed in 1900 census of Center twp., Pocahontas Co., IA, married 20 years, no children. Birthplace listed for Joseph and his father are incorrect. His father died when Joseph was 14 years old, which could explain the error. Joseph also listed in 1925 Iowa census of Center twp., with new? wife Mathi? age 67. Had an 8th. grade education.
        6. Harriet McCann Shepherd, b. 27-Jun-1851.
        7. John E. Shepherd, b. ca. 1856.
        8. Martha E. Shepherd, b. ca. 1858.
      9. Eliza Jane Shepherd, b. 10-Oct-1842, Springfield, IL, Housewife,
        married 8-Aug-1866, in Carlisle, Warren, IA, Hibert C. (Cottrell?) Clark, b. 24-Feb-1845, Liberty? twp., Jackson, OH, son of Simon W. Clark I and Nancy Cottrell, farmer, bee keeper,
        Hibert d. 26-Dec-1924, Marshalltown, Marshall, IA, from a stroke, at his daughter's home, buried Palmyra, Warren, IA.
        Jane d. 18-Mar-1915, Palmyra, Warren, IA, buried Palmyra, Warren, IA. Proof of Eliza Jane Shepherd Clark's lineage is found in the Champaign Co., Il., court records, April term, 1864, of a law suit, Paris Shepherd vs. Fountain J. Busey , Maria L. Busey, Elinor Argo, James R. Shepherd, Elijah Bethards, Eliza Bethards, Daniel Hammer, Mary Hammer, Malinda Shepherd, Angus L. Shepherd, Eliza Jane Shepherd, David Shepherd, Joseph Shepherd, John Shepherd, Harriet Shepherd, Martha Shepherd, Ann Maria Cutlip and James Cutlip. The records say that Paris Shepherd is a brother of John Shepherd, dec'd. Champaign Co., Il., county history tells of David Shepherd and where he was from in OH.
        Hibert and Eliza Jane had a farm that the Middle River divided. It lay between the Watt's hill bridge over Middle River and the road that is IA highway 5, southeast of Carlisle. He raised truck garden and had honey bees. He also had fish cages in the river where he kept live fish. When he wanted fish for a meal he would go get his fish out of the cage. The house was near the river, the house being on the east side of the river. Information from the recollections of De Loss Clyde Clark and his sister, Pearl Marie Clark Blake, now both dec'd.
        1. Alice Minnie "Malinda" Clark, b. 23-May-1865.
        2. Emilene "Emma" Palmyra Clark, b. 17-Jan-1867.
        3. Laura Jane Clark, b. 6-May-1869.
        4. Edward/Edwin "Edd"/"Pop" Clark, b. 2-Dec-1871.
        5. Fountian Ellis Clark, b. 3-Aug-1873.
        6. Eva May Clark, b. 5-Feb-1875.
        7. Nancy Clark, b. ca. 1876, Carlisle, Warren, IA, died in infancy, buried, location unk.
        8. Willis ( a twin) Clark, b. 16-Dec-1877, Carlisle, Warren, IA, died in infancy, buried, location unk.
        9. Wilber ( a twin) Clark, b. 16-Dec-1877, Carlisle, Warren, IA, died in infancy, buried, location unk.
        10. Frankie Clark, b. 9-Jul-1879, Carlisle, Warren, IA, died Oct. 1879, Carlisle, Warren, IA, buried, location unk.
        11. Effa Clark, b. 19-Jan-1882, Carlisle, Warren, IA, died in infancy, buried, location unk.
    2. John Shepherd, d. 1726, of Prince George Co., MD
      1. John Shepherd
      2. Nathan Shepherd
      3. Willaim Shepherd

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