In a message dated 6/30/2006 11:01:11 AM Pacific Standard Time, WVHARDY-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: X-Message: #2 Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 19:06:51 -0400 From: "David Armstrong" <heraldry@meer.net> To: WVHARDY-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <002301c69bd0$b54d9060$0489ced8@yourcjyhi9abh9> Subject: Shepherd SHEPHERD: John SHEPHERD, born circa 1735, married Sarah ???. He died in 1802 in Hardy County, WV. He had an apparent son Jonathan Shepherd born c1760, enlisted in Moses Rawlings Rifles 1775 while living in Old Town, Allegheny County, Md. Who are the ancestors of John and Jonathan Shepherd? Seek information on the John Shepherd who died in Frederick County, MD in 1765 (also with a wife Sarah). Also seeking John Shepherd who died in 1726 and left children named John, Nathan and William in Frederick County. Finally, Who was the Thomas Shepherd who was in Hampshire County in 1777? Will share what I have with interested persons. Thanks. Best regards, David Armstrong, Elkins, WV David: I'm a Sheppard descendant and have not been able to find out for sure who John's father was. It might be Wm., Jr. whose father Wm., Sr. also had Thomas and John. Thomas was the founder of Shepherdstown. Some have mistaken John son of Thomas for our John father of Jonathan. I have a letter from the WV Division of Culture and History that even says that! When I wrote back to them, they admitted the error. That John had a wife Martha and died in Red Oak, Ohio 31 July 1912. It looks like you may have read A Genealogy of the Duke-Sheppard-VanMetre Family. I think I got it at Ancestry.com. It has Thomas' will, etc. Another descendant, Betty Wiblin, has worked on this and thinks Wm., Jr. is the most likely father of John. We don't worry about the spelling - it wasn't precise in those days. Here is her summary of the ancestry of John: If my theory should happen to be correct, it would be: John and Sarah (These are definitely ancestors.) *William, Jr. and Unknown b. 1707 Prince George Co. MD. Resided in Rock Creek, MD. *William, Sr. and Sarah Cochran b. abt. 1680 d. bet. 1741-1745. He was a carpenter and resided in Prince George Co., MD. (Another son Thomas b. 1705 d. in Shepherdstown, WV 1776) *Thomas Shepherd, b. abt. 1650, possibly in Ireland; died abt. 1698 in MD. Married an Unknown Ellis. *Thomas Ellis (Mrs. Thomas Shepherd's father) To further confuse us, I found this on Thomas' father (Sr. and Jr. did not necessarily mean father & son in those days.) Entries: 5220 Updated: Wed Jan 30 14:03:05 2002 Contact: Veronica Beinstingel Stroud Home Page: "Bridging the Gap to Unite Families" ID: I1222 Name: Thomas Sr. Shepherd Given Name: Thomas Sr. Surname: Shepherd NSFX: Captain Sex: M Title: Captain Note: From the West Virginia Historical Magazine, Oct. 1902, pg. 28: "Three brothers, Thomas, John and William Shepherd came to this country from Shropshire, (Wales), and landed at Annapolis, Maryland; Thomas settled at Shepherdstown, John in Maryland and William went to the west." There are lots of Sheppard descendants who would like to solve this. Please let me know of whatever you learn. Barbara Sheppard Snyder Orinda, CA