This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Harris/Sheppard Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/oRB.2ACI/630 Message Board Post: My husband is descended from Oliver and Amy Sheppard Harris who were married in Cumberland Co., NJ by Rev. Henry Smalley. Oliver was born in 1777 in Cumberland Co., NJ and Amy was born 15 FEB 1780. (Amy was a daughter of Joel Sheppard, born 17 SEP 1748.) The couple migrated to New Market Township, Highland Co., OH, date unknown. We have a copy of a diary written in 1800 - 1804 by a 'brother' of Oliver, but whose name is unknown. The author was a teacher and lived sometimes with the Rev. Henry Smalley family as well as with others when he was teaching school in the areas of Bowentown, Shiloh and Bridgeton, Cumberland Co., NJ. He later did at least his initial training in preparation for becomming a minister with Henry Smalley also. On Aug 6, 1802, he notes that he was 20 years of age and, subsequently, on 6 Aug 1803 he noted himself as having become 21 years old, making his date of birth 06 Aug 1882. Another relevant date would be 03 April 1802, the date of his baptism when Joel Harris, Oliver Harris and Wm. Steeing were baptised in addition to our 'mystery boy'. The church appears to be Cohansey Baptist. In the diary, the author mentions his sister Sally (Sarah) who was married to Mark Bowen (03 Apr 1798). He tells of the marriage of his brother, Oliver, and Amy on 20 June 1803. Others mentioned as siblings were: 1) Polly, noted on 26 March 1803, (my sister Polly indentured unto uncle Johnson Reeves), 2) Hosea who died 19 March 1802 (described as 'a blooming youth' but a little past 16 years of age) - making him born @ 1786, 3) Charles (no information noted other than that the author and Charles lived together when there was an outbreak of measles in Dec 1802). It is my understanding that the father of Oliver was Robert who married Mary Bereman ('uncle Eli Bereman', 'uncle Joel Bereman', 'aunt Sally Bereman' are mentioned). Mary's death occurred 1 Sep 1799 in Cumberland Co., NJ, Father: John Bereman, Mother: Sarah Fithian Bateman (The mother of the author of the diary was noted as having been deceased 'one year' as of '01 Sep 1800', which would concur with Mary B. H.'s death above) Robert apparently was married a second time, however we have not located the name of a wife other than Mary. 'Lemuel Reeves', son of above (uncle) Johnson Reeves and Zerviah Reeves is mentioned as is 'Uncle Joel Harris' Does anyone have access to any information which would help to identify the name of the author of the diary? Or might you have a suggestion as to where this might be located? Also is there a means of substantiating the information regarding Polly, Hosea and Charles? Thank you.