Chapter 8
A
FINAL RETURN TO THE COUNTY LINE DISTRICT -1805-1807
After losing his son
Booker in 1802, losing his wife in 1804 and losing his home in 1805, William
Shapard was broken. The affects of his
circumstance greatly impacted his wellbeing and his health began to suffer. His
best recourse was to return to the County Line District, twenty miles from his
former estate in Williamsboro, where he could be cared for by his sons Thomas
and John and his daughter Ann (Shapard) Royster, who all lived close to one
another. The records seem to indicate that William resided with his daughter
Ann and her husband Francis Royster on their plantation near William’s old
estate. Once settled, William decided it was time to divide up and convey his
estate to his children.
On January 3, 1806,
William gave his son Lewis the original 220 acre Shapard plantation he had
purchased in 1785 when the family first moved to Granville County. While the
gesture was appreciated, Lewis was a respected plantation owner in Caswell
County, North Carolina, and was too deeply rooted to move back to Granville
County. Inevitably, Lewis sold this land in Granville County, a year later, in
March of 1807, to his brother Thomas who owned a neighboring tract. The tax
records for the County Line District in 1807 reflect this transaction in the
acreage owned by Thomas Shapard, from 465 acres in 1806 to 672 acres a year
later. Thomas eventually sold this land to John Puryear in 1811.
About the same time
that Mr. Shapard gave land to his son Lewis, he also conveyed the remaining
portion of his estate to his son James, who was living in Orange County, North
Carolina. Perhaps due to it being a more plentiful portion, this conveyance
produced a considerable amount of discontent among many of the Shapard children.
In order to restore peace among his siblings, James agreed to relinquish his
deed to the property, on the condition that Mr. John Webb and Mr. James Smith
act as mediators.
On February 2, 1807,
Mr. William Shapard convened at the home of his son-in-law Francis Royster,
along with most of the Shapard children and their councilors Mr. Webb and Mr.
Smith. After a lengthy discussion it was discovered that Mr. Shapard was
struggling with how to divide his estate among his much loved children, yet, he
was willing to do whatever needed to be done to make it right. To remedy the
situation, the Shapard children elected Thomas Shapard and Francis Royster as
the trustees of Mr. Shapard’s estate. Then Mr. Webb and Mr. Smith, in the
presence of the group, drew up a Deed of Trust, whereby, the trustees, gained
control of his remaining estate. The trustees were to sell only as much of
William’s property (land, slaves, livestock and household goods) as needed to
satisfy all of his debts. The Deed of Trust also arranged for Mr. Shapard’s
care for the remainder of his life. He was allowed to reside wherever he
desired, and every Christmas, he was to be given an annuity of $50 by his
children, for his support. In return his children would be compensated through
an equal inheritance of his remaining estate after his death. Mr. Shapard
reserved a few items from his estate for his own use, that were not to be sold
prior to his death. Items included his bay mare horse named “Kate,” one saddle,
one bridle, a feather bed and furniture. William also stipulated that his slave
Abram shall be conveyed to his son John S. Shapard, and that his slave Dick
shall be conveyed to his son Robert Shapard. The Deed of Trust made it clear
that these slaves, as well as, the money previously issued to his son Samuel B.
Shapard, in 1797, was to be considered an advancement upon their inheritance.
It appears that after
his property was placed in trust, Mr. Shapard lived out his final eight months
at the home of his daughter Elizabeth and her husband Francis Royster. Although
Thomas Shapard lived on the old Shapard plantation, he was single and most
likely lacked the responsibility and nurturing ability to fully care for his
father. Elizabeth, on the other hand, was a mother and wife and lived very near
the old Shapard plantation. She would have embraced the roll as her father’s
caregiver. Further evidence supporting this, is that, after the death of Mr.
Shapard, it was Francis Royster who held the estate sale of his last remaining
personal property, including a bed, horse, saddle, furniture, etc.
Circa October in the
year 1807, William Shapard, Sr., died at the home of Francis and Elizabeth
Royster, reaching an age of about 67 years. The life he lived was a tremendous
testament to his Christian upbringing, love of family, fearless perseverance
and perpetual optimism. He was a monumental man at a formidable time in our
nation’s history, and his example should stand forever as a tribute to the
essence and greatness of being a Shapard. William Shapard, Sr., was laid to
rest within a day or two of his death, most likely next to the grave of his
wife, Mary. The hallowed site of their mortal remains has long been forgotten;
however, it most assuredly resides in the northern section of present-day
Granville County or possibly Vance County, North Carolina.
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