William Shapard - (Chapter 10) A Few Loose Ends

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.

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 14^th and 15^th 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.