Chapter 10
A
FEW LOOSE ENDS
Before the conclusion
of this book, I think it appropriate to complete the biographies on the
remainder of William Shapard’s children:
Thomas Shapard,
remained steadfast by his father’s side throughout his final years. On April
11, 1811, Thomas Shapard, age 32, married Miss Fanny Bailey of Person County,
North Carolina. Thomas and Fanny had the following children: William Shapard;
Sarah Jane Shapard (b. Nov. 17, 1813) married Charles Lewis Bullock; Arianna
Shapard (b. c. 1815) married James Lewis Webb; Lewis Booker Shapard, Sr. (b.
Sept. 13, 1817) married Catherine Clements Vaulx; Thomas Shapard Jr. (b. 1820)
married Caroline Hurt; Yancy B. Shapard (b. 1825); Helen Shapard (b. July 26,
1829) in Tennessee; and John M. Shapard (b. 1830). Thomas Shapard sold what
remained of the Shapard plantation in the County Line District and migrated
from Granville County, to Person County, North Carolina, circa 1813, where he
flourished. In the 1820s and 1830s, Thomas owned two tracts of land, one being
600 acres and the other being 761 acres that was worked by his 45 slaves. Circa
1837, Thomas and his family migrated to Haywood County, Tennessee, with 31
slaves. Thomas Shapard died in November or December of 1840, at the age of 62.
The location of his grave in Haywood County has been forgotten through time.
Interestingly, Thomas’
son, Thomas Shapard, Jr., flourished in Haywood County after the death of his
father. In the 1850s, he owned over 4,000 acres and was highly influential in
his community. In the 1860s, at the start of the Civil War, he declared to
“pledge our lives, fortunes and sacred honor in defense of our rights which are
now being attacked by Lincoln and black republicans...” He was a man of his
word, as by 1863, there was a locomotive built by Roger’s Works named the
“Thomas Shapard,” which was a 15 cylinder, 22 stroke, with 4’6” wheel, and
weighted 54,000 lbs. By 1866, the train had run 1,100 miles. In addition, there
remains to this day a town in Haywood County, Tennessee named “Shepp,” named
for a “Thomas Sheppard,” presumably our Thomas, who had a contract with the
railroad to keep a wooden water tank filled. The town was originally called
“Sheppard Switch,” however; the name was later changed to “Shepp” by the post
office department.
William Shapard’s daughter
Mary “Polly” Shapard never married and was living in Caswell County, North
Carolina, in 1811. She spent a great deal of time with her brother James and
his family. Mary eventually migrated to Person County, North Carolina, where
she died circa 1829, at 49 years of age. In her last Will and Testament, she
bequeathed her five slaves to her brother James Shapard and his children.
Mary’s grave marker weathered away with the ages, leaving its location
presently unknown.
John S. Shapard signature in 1812 |
William Shapard’s son,
John S. Shapard, remained in Granville County for a year or so after his
father’s death. He gained a portion of his inheritance, being 196 acres of land
in the County Line District, on June 5, 1807, of which he promptly sold the
following day to John Puryear, a neighboring land owner. John married Elizabeth
Vass, daughter of Philip and Elizabeth (Webb) Vass, on October 15, 1808, in
Person County, North Carolina. John and Elizabeth moved to Halifax County,
Virginia, sometime before 1811, to be near her parents. By 1816, John’s
father-in-law, Philip Vass, had written him out of his will, on account of Mr.
Vass believing that John was a drunkard and would squander his inheritance.
Instead, the inheritance went directly to Elizabeth and her children. John and
his wife had five children all born between 1808 and 1820: Samuel Vass Shapard; Mary Elizabeth Shapard married Richard Carter; Martha T. Shapard; Philip P. Shapard married Parthenia Dodson; and Emily B. Shapard married Joseph Haden. John S. Shapard supported his family through farming and his skill as a carpenter. The family retained the services of only one slave over the years. John and his wife were recorded on the 1840 census for Halifax County, Virginia; however, by 1850, John was living with his daughter Martha, suggesting that his wife had died prior to this date. John S. Shapard died on October 14, 1857, in Halifax County, Virginia, at the age of 75 years. The location of his grave has yet to be found.
his wife had five children all born between 1808 and 1820: Samuel Vass Shapard; Mary Elizabeth Shapard married Richard Carter; Martha T. Shapard; Philip P. Shapard married Parthenia Dodson; and Emily B. Shapard married Joseph Haden. John S. Shapard supported his family through farming and his skill as a carpenter. The family retained the services of only one slave over the years. John and his wife were recorded on the 1840 census for Halifax County, Virginia; however, by 1850, John was living with his daughter Martha, suggesting that his wife had died prior to this date. John S. Shapard died on October 14, 1857, in Halifax County, Virginia, at the age of 75 years. The location of his grave has yet to be found.
William Shapard’s
youngest child, Robert Shapard, appears to have remained in Granville County
until about 1806 when, at 20 years of age, he moved to Richmond, Virginia, to
be near his older brother William Shapard, Jr., who was establishing himself as
a merchant in the city. By 1819, Robert had established a hardware store in
downtown Richmond, between 14th and 15th Street, and his
older brother William, Jr., had become highly successful as a commission
merchant. Robert and William, Jr., remained very close during their time
together, helping each other when able and continuing the bonds of brotherhood.
Unfortunately, on January 1, 1828, Robert Shapard died in Richmond, Virginia,
at 42 years of age. The location of his grave remains elusive. At present, very
little information has been found on Robert. It is unknown if he married or had
children, though a continuation of his line is highly possible, and may be
discovered by a future researcher.
Nathan ~ Hello :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about the Shapard family ~ what lead me to your blog was your info on Lizzie Shapard Jaynes, her life and tragic death. I have a somewhat odd hobby that I like to call "Random Acts of Genealogy" meaning that I return items that I find in antique shops to their rightful owners. I enjoy the research, challenge, history and the stories. I don't do this for money, I feel like it's the right thing to do. So far I’ve returned a WWII ration book, post cards, autograph books and photographs; right now I’m working on returning a few diaries, bibles and of course, photographs.
Anyway, I have original photos of Lizzie Shepard Jaynes (taken in Washington DC), Imogene Shapard (age 5'ish in Memphis), Eva Shapard (age 15'ish in Shelbyville), Tom & Rob Shapard (ages 5 & 6'ish in Shelbyville) and finally a Mrs R (something ~ I can't read it) Shepard (in Fort Smith).
The items that I find are not my ancestors but I know they are someone's and they deserve to be with their loved ones. Let me know if you're interested in them ~ I'm sure you'd be delighted to have them back with you and yours. : )
P.S. I don't know how this Google + works; I created this account specifically to contact you. My email address is pattycake907@yahoo.com
Thanks