Samuel Booker Shapard (1763-1836) and Buckingham County, Virginia

     Samuel Booker Shapard was born on November 12, 1763 in Cumberland County, Virginia, being the first child born to William Shapard (1741-1807) and Mary (Booker) Shapard (1746-1804). He was named after his paternal grandfather, Samuel Shapard (c.1700-1752), and his mother’s maiden name of Booker. Samuel was educated in his youth and studied law under Judge John Holman, Sr. (1731-1818), of Cumberland County, Virginia. In 1780, during the Revolutionary War, Samuel suspended his law studies in order to serve two terms in the Cumberland County Virginia Militia as a substitute for his father. As compensation for his service, his father deeded him his entire estate. The deed, however, was eventually renegotiated in 1788, and Samuel settled for the price of 200 acres and a slave as a more reasonable remuneration. After the war, in 1785, Samuel’s parents and siblings migrated to Granville County, North Carolina. However, Samuel remained in Cumberland County, teaching school at Brown’s Church while finishing his training to become an attorney.

On November 2, 1788, in Cumberland County, Virginia, at 19 years of age, Samuel married Susannah Holman (c. 1770-1852), the 18 year old daughter of his mentor, Judge John Holman, Sr., and Susannah (Yancy) (1836-1812). Early in their marriage, Samuel (and possibly Susannah) traveled frequently, to surprisingly diverse locations, while tending to the clients of his budding law practice. In the 1790s and early 1800s, Samuel focused a large portion of his law practice on the legal aspects of acquiring and surveying the land bounties assigned as payment to Revolutionary War veterans. In so doing, Samuel ventured to various frontier counties in Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky and South Carolina, often being absent from home for weeks , if not months, with “no known residence.”

Once Susannah began to bear children, the adventure of traveling with her husband became impractical. Early on, she established her household in Cumberland County, Virginia, likely on her father’s 368 acre plantation on the Green Creek. However, in 1802, Samuel and Susannah purchased a 213 acre plantation from Moses Scott, who divided his original 400 acre tract, as their primary residence to raise their children. Their new land was situated in Buckingham County, Virginia, on the Buffalo Creek, only a few hundred yards from the Cumberland County boarder; and, approximately 14 miles, by road, from John Holman, Sr.’s plantation. Richmond, Virginia, was the nearest city at 60 miles, however, Maysville, CaIra [Caira] and Farmville were smaller towns of commercial importance at 10 miles, 3 miles and 15 miles respectively.

The new Shapard plantation was half cleared with fields well suited for tobacco production, for which Samuel B. Shapard utilized his 5 slaves in 1805. Through diligent practice, his holdings would grow to 14 slaves by 1820. Furthermore, records show that he owned numerous horses, and seemed to have an affinity for raising prized stud horses. Samuel also had the luxury of owning a carriage as a necessity of his work, as well as, a wooden clock, which was a rarity in the early 1800s.

Over the years, Samuel and Susannah would be blessed with nine children who survived to adulthood. Carroll M. (1789-1877); Christopher (c. 1791-?); Juliette (c. 1792-1885); Harriett Booker (c. 1794-?); Maria (c. 1798-1877); Margara (c. 1800-?); William Edward (c. 1802-1874); Burwell (1804-1865); and Samuel A. (c. 1808-?). Heartbreakingly, two of the Shapard’s sons, Christopher and Samuel A., suffered from severe cognitive deficiencies, to the degree that they could not support themselves. They were described in 1850 as “idiotic;” meaning that their “mental faculties were arrested in infancy or childhood before coming to maturity.” Christopher, during his lifetime, lived with and was cared for by his mother; and, Samuel A. resided with and was cared for, during his adult life, by his older brother Burwell and his family. Although it is unknown from what they were afflicted, since Christopher survived into his 60s and Samuel A. survived at least into his 40s, it is doubtful that the two boys suffered from Down Syndrome as life expectancy was abated in that condition.

Through the early ventures of his law practice, Samuel B. Shapard had developed a talent for land speculation. Throughout his life, he purchased numerous tracts of undervalued land, selling it to future buyers at a profit. In February of 1803, Samuel Shapard purchased 112 acres of land in Price Edward County, from Abner Nash for £100 current money of Virginia. The transaction was witnessed by his brother-in-law James Holman (c. 1771-?). Only four months later, Samuel divided the land and sold half to Watthall Holcomb, and the other half to Samuel V. Allen for a total sum of £194.17.6 (pounds/shillings/pence) current money of Virginia, nearly doubling his initial investment.

At the time of the land sale, Susannah Shapard was pregnant with her eighth child, a son named Burwell, and she was unable to conveniently travel the short distance to Prince Edward County to sign off on her ‘dower rights’. In response, the County Court of Prince Edward commissioned the Justices of Cumberland County to interview and examine Susannah Shapard “privately and apart from her husband and that she declare that she freely and voluntarily relinquished her right in the land…” and to report their findings back to the court of Price Edward. Susannah Shapard was examined by the judges for each of the land transactions, once on May 21, 1804 and the second on July 9, 1804.

Samuel’s next land investment came in late February of 1806, when he acquired 100 acres on Copper Creek in Russell County, Virginia, from his uncle John Woodson (1747-1821) and his uncle’s second wife Elizabeth (Venable) Woodson for the sum of £60 Virginia money. Samuel remained in Russell County for the next three months. In March he attended two court cases as a juror. On May 9, 1807, Samuel sold the land he had purchased from his uncle to Mr. Stephen Goose [Gose] for £100 Virginia money, again nearly doubling his initial investment, before returning to his residence in Buckingham County.

In August 1807, Samuel Shapard and his brother-in-law John Holman, Jr. (1757-1852), became partners in a large land investment. Together they purchased 192 acres of land in Cumberland County on Buckingham Road, near the town of CaIra [Caira] from Fleming Cayce, Sr. (?-1819) for £292.12.0 (pounds/shillings/pence). Interestingly, Mr. Cayce’s son Fleming, Jr. (c. 1800- c. 1869), would marry Samuel’s daughter Margara circa 1824.

The allure of investing in the land around CaIra (pronounced locally as “Sarah”) was derived from the town being situated on the northern bank of the Willis River and being commercially navigable to the markets in Richmond, via the Willis River to the James River. This held great promise for future development of the town, as planters and businessmen could benefit from shipping their goods and produce to market by water at more affordable rates than that of shipping goods over land by horse and wagon. CaIra had only been established a few years earlier in 1798, and was situated within three miles from Samuel Shapard’s Buckingham plantation residence. At this time, CaIra was in its infancy, comprised of only a few houses, a church and a mill. Unfortunately, CaIra never developed into a strong center of economic growth, as Samuel Shapard had hoped. Over the years, mill debris became an obstruction, hindering vessels from easily transporting goods through the area. In 1843, the town held a public meeting against the Willis Company that was responsible for keeping the river navigable. The committee was headed by J.W.A Sanders and William B. Shepard, being Samuel Shapard’s grandson. By the end of the Civil War, the small town had fully waned, and in 1957 the ruins of the old mill burned. 

Only a few months after their mutual land purchase, Samuel Shapard and John Holman, Jr., began to recoup their investment, when they sold a 60 acre portion to Mr. Charles Blake for £82. In 1809, Samuel and John sold another 60 acre tract of their land to Mr. Thomas Hughes of Cumberland County for £80. This deed was significant, for it listed the wives of the sellers as, “Susanna Shepard” and “Ann (Wright) Holman (1766-1833).” The final mention of this land occurred in 1814, when Samuel and John sold an additional portion to Robert Yancy and John Yancy, both of Cumberland County, for £100. From all accounts, it appears that Samuel and John took a £30.12.0 (pounds/shillings/pence) loss on their investment, testifying to the fact that CaIra had an alluring initial potential that never came to fruition.  

Sadly, circa October of 1807, Samuel Shapard’s father William Shapard, Sr., died in Granville County, North Carolina. William had appointed his son Thomas Shapard (1778-1840) and son-in-law Francis Royster (?-1820) as executors of his will, and they diligently began the monumental task of settling his large estate and distributing the remaining property between the heirs. However, a heated dispute arose between Samuel B. Shapard and the other heirs. Samuel claimed that the money he received in 1797 as payment for his service to his father during the war, being the value of 200 acres of land and slave, should not have been considered an advancement upon his inheritance, and that he should also receive an equal portion of the remaining estate. The other heirs objected, claiming Samuel’s position was contrary to what was stipulated by their father in an 1807 Deed of Trust. Samuel countered by pointing out that many of the heirs had received land or chattel from their father prior to his death, and yet, that property was not being deducted from their expected portion of the inheritance.

Unable to resolve the matter, a Bill of Complaint was filed in the North Carolina Granville County Court of Equity by the heirs in 1811. After numerous depositions and court appearances, the case was finally settled on March 4, 1815. It was determined that William Shapard’s remaining estate had a value of £3,084.0.4, of which £593.8.10 had been used in the payment of debts, leaving a balance to the heirs in the amount of £2,490.11.6. It was also determined that William Shapard had conveyed property, in the form of land, slaves and livestock, in the amount of £1,272 to his children prior to his death. As a settlement, the judge ordered that all property conveyed by William Shapard to his children prior to his death, was to be considered an advancement upon their respective inheritance and thus to be deducted from each heir’s specific claim on the remaining estate. When all was said and done, each heir received a total inheritance valued at £396.0.10.

Back in Buckingham County, in 1810, Samuel increased his land holdings by an additional 129 acres on Buffalo Creek. The land was acquired from a division of the 207 acre farm owned by Mr. James Hudgins, who departed Buckingham County later that year.  This purchase brought Samuel’s total land in Buckingham County to 342 acres, which was almost double the county’s average farm size during this era. In addition, Samuel had ten slaves in 1810 to help work the new land, clearing fields, building fences, and sowing and reaping crops. Tobacco was still the main cash crop of Buckingham, and it is highly likely that much of Samuel’s land was used for its production.  

Interestingly, in 1810, Samuel’s eldest son Carroll M. Shepard had come of age, at 21 years old. Carroll was a talented and highly motivated young man, traits that would remain with him into his adult years. No doubt, at a young age he learned to shoulder the responsibilities of keeping the plantation operational during his father’s numerous and extended absences. In 1810, records show that Carroll acquired two slaves and a horse, upon which he was taxed for the year. Later that same year, Carroll M. Shepard was the plaintiff in two lawsuits against Robert and John Yancy, being the same men whom would purchase Samuel Shapard’s and John Holman, Jr’s, land in Cumberland County in 1814.

It is important to note, that Samuel B. Shapard’s sons, during their adulthood, deferred to the more common “Shepard” spelling of their surname. Although, in general, surname spelling was inconsistent during the early 1800s, Samuel was highly educated and consistently used the “Shapard” spelling himself; thus, the reason for the change in his children is not fully understood. In other Shapard lines, the surname only changed due to illiteracy or the premature death of the Shapard patriarch, neither of which occurred in this instance. However, Samuel was often away, perhaps allowing local factors to influence the children to “correct” the spelling of their surname, such as a teacher or tutor.

  Over the next few years, Samuel traveled frequently for work, often for extensive amounts of time. Whilst away, he was listed as having “no fixed residence” or having gone to “parts unknown,” indicating that he was unable to be reached. As a consequence, locating his whereabouts during these times in the records is almost impossible, as he ranged vastly due to his love of travel and adventure. There are a few lawsuits from Cumberland County where a “Samuel Shepard” sued John Micheaux in June of 1810 and Charles Lee and Henry Lee in May of 1812. Whether or not this was our Samuel has yet to be confirmed, though the probability is high. 

At the start of The War of 1812, Samuel would have been 50 years old, and too elderly to have enlisted into active service for a second time against the British. However, his eldest son, Carroll M. Shepard was 23 years old at the beginning of the conflict. In 1814, Carroll enlisted as a private in the 1^st Regiment (Yancy’s) Virginia Militia, whose purpose it was to guard the city of Richmond from attack. The 1^st Regiment was commanded by Lt. Col. Charles Yancy of Albemarle County, Virginia. This Regiment mustered men from the counties of Buckingham, Albemarle, Fluvanna and Orange. Joined with the 1^st Regiment, was the 2^nd Regiment Virginia Militia commanded by Lt. Col. Thomas Ballowe of Buckingham County, Virginia, that encompassed men from Buckingham, Albemarle, Augusta and Richmond City. These two Regiments comprised a brigade commanded by General Robert Porterfield. The 1^st and 2^nd Regiments remained in their respective counties until called to assemble at Richmond in July of 1814. From there, the brigade removed to Camp Fairfield, however, due to the poor quality of water, they reestablished camp, in early September, at Holly Springs, situated 12 miles south of Richmond. By the grace of God, the British never encroached upon Richmond, and Carroll M. Shepard was able to return home from war, having served his country, without incident or injury.       

After the war, there was a season of great joy for the Shapard family. In 1816, Samuel B. Shapard’s eldest daughter Juliette was the first of his children to marry.  On November 20, she wed Andrew Ammonet (1784-1870) who had been a private in the War of 1812 under Capt. Faulkner and Allen Company Virginia Militia. The newlyweds remained in Buckingham County until 1822, thereafter, settling in Florence, Lauderdale County, Alabama. There they raised five children: Mary Louisa (1817-1861), Frances Elizabeth (1823-1860), Susan Yancy (1825-1876), William (1828-1869) and Manpage (1832-1850). Mr. Ammonet preceded his wife in death in 1870. Juliette (Shepard) Ammonet passed away on March 14, 1885, in Florence, Alabama.

Only six days after Samuel’s daughter married, the Shapard family celebrated a second wedding on November 26, 1816, that of Carroll M. Shepard to Nancy A. Price (1796-1861). The couple remained in Buckingham County for the duration of their lives, raising ten children: William B. (1818-?), Martha P. (1822-?), Susan H. (1824-?), Fayette Hubbard (1827-1869), Louisa A. (1830-?), Mary C. (1831-?), Thomas I. (1832-?), John M. (1834-1888), Sarah Virginia (1836-?) and Julia (1839-1857). Shortly after their marriage in 1817, Carroll purchased 225 acres of land on Buffalo Creek, near his father’s plantation, that he was able to work with his 5 slaves. Over the years, by 1828, his slave holdings had nearly doubled. Carroll also possessed a carriage and multiple horses that he used throughout his life. In 1829, Carroll and Nancy purchased an additional 100 acres of land on Buffalo Creek from Mr. Drury Wheeler. Circa 1840, Carroll sold off about 200 acres from his original plantation, retaining only 29 ¾ acre, as well as, the 100 acres that he purchased in 1829 from Mr. Wheeler. In 1846, Carroll sold all the remaining land he owned in Buckingham County to William M. Thornton, departing from the vocation of planter, to that of a mill owner. For about twenty years, Mr. Shepard owned and operated the grist mill in Buckingham County, as well as, one of the three saw mills. Interestingly, in 1856, his son Fayette Shepard purchased his father’s original 225 acre plantation from Mr. Richard Thornton, farming the plantation until his premature death circa 1869. Carroll Shepard’s wife Nancy (Price) died in 1861 and was buried in Buckingham County.  In January of 1877, Carroll M. Shepard died at the age of 88 years old, and was buried next to his wife in his beloved Buckingham County.

In 1818, Samuel B. Shapard’s father-in-law, John Holman, Sr., died in Cumberland County, Virginia. His estate was divided equally between his children: John (Jr.), Mary, Yancy, Nancy, Susanna (Shapard), James, George, Thomas, Elizabeth and Katy. Later that year, the executors of his estate, John Holman, Jr., and George Holman, sold their father’s plantation. It was advertised as, “…Valuable tract of land belonging to the estate of John Holman, Sen’r, deceased, containing 368 acres; about one half of which is cleared, and is in good order for cropping. The improvements consist in a comfortable dwelling and out houses. The quality of the land is equal to any in the neighborhood. This land is situated in the  county of Cumberland, and is about 3 miles from Appomattox, and lies on the waters of Green creek, and distant from Jamestown and Farmville about 3 miles, from Ca Ira 12 miles…”

 In 1819, Samuel Shapard purchased an additional 25 acres of land on Buffalo Creek from the heirs of William Miles. At this time, in Buckingham County, Samuel owned 367.5 acres of land. The following year, it was recorded that he had 14 slaves: 3 males under the age of 14 years, 4 males between 14-25 years old, 2 males between the age of 26-44 years, 3 females under the age of 14 years, 1 female between 14-25 years old and 1 female between 26-44 years of age. It is impressive to consider that in addition to running a successful law practice and operating a profitable tobacco plantation, Samuel, at this time of his life was 58 years old and was also responsible for the need and care of 22 people under his house hold, being his 8 family members and 14 slaves.

On April 11, 1820, The Richmond Inquirer newspaper ran an article stating,” Deed of trust executed to us by George Adcock, Jr., of Buckingham County bearing the date of June 10, 1819 and recorded in the County Court record for the purpose of securing a debt, sell to the highest bidder at Mosley’s Tavern in the town of Caira [in Cumberland County, Virginia] on May 15^th 1820 the land of George Adcock, Jr., being 233 acres. (signed) Sam. Shaphard, Ben Brown.” This newspaper notice is noteworthy for the fact that, even as late as 1820, Samuel was still using the “ShApard” spelling. Although, the variant of the added “H” is unusual, it may have been due to either an editor error or someone else submitting the notice on Samuel’s behalf and misspelling his surname. Regardless, the “A” is the focus of importance, and with the added connection to CaIra and Buckingham County, we can rest assured that this is our Samuel Shapard.

It seems that from 1820 to 1822, two more of Samuel B. Shapard’s children were married. His daughter Maria married William Bosher (?-1821) circa 1820. Shortly after their marriage, the newlyweds moved to neighboring Cumberland County, Virginia. In 1821, Maria gave birth to a daughter, Maria Susan (1821-1854). Unfortunately, what should have been an era of joy, ended abruptly with the death of Mr. William Bosher in November of 1821. Maria's brother Carroll M. Shepard became the executor of William's estate. Maria never remarried and lived the remainder of her life with her daughter, who married Miletus B. Palmore, in Powhatan County, Virginia. Maria (Shapard) Bosher died in April of 1877, having outlived her husband and her only child.    

The second wedding to take place was Samuel’s daughter Margara who married Fleming Cayce, Jr. (c. 1800-1869), circa 1822. The couple settled in Cumberland County, Virginia, where they raised a family of seven children: Milton (1823-?), Susan (1825-1859), Frances (1826-?), Lucy (1830-?), George M. (1835-?), Garland J. (1837-?) and Edgar M. (1840-?).  Mr. Fleming was a wheelwright by profession and was very industrious. His talents allowed him to greatly service the community by way of fixing wagons and carriages to building coffins, etc. By all accounts he was very successful in his early career; however, he encountered financial trouble in the 1840s by way of significant debt. In 1845, he was forced to declared bankruptcy. Thereafter he never gained the success of his earlier days, and seemed to become highly volatile by nature. On at least two separate occasions in the 1850s he was brought up on charges by the Commonwealth of Virginia for assault and battery. One of the instances was for the “assault and beating” of his brother-in-law Burwell Shepard of Buckingham County. In 1857, Mr. Cayce lost his house and 4 acres to debt, however, his daughter Lucy who married Robert A. Baughan [Vaughan], purchased the house to pay his debt. In 1859, the Baughans sold the house to Milton Cayce, Fleming’s son, to remain under his care. Fleming Cayce died in 1869, and, at the present, it is unknown what became of Margara (Shapard) as she is absent from the records after 1860.     

On January 10, 1822, an indenture was made between between Samuel C. Hooten of the town of Caira in Cumberland County and “Samuel Shepherd of the county of Buckingham.” Mr. Hooten sold to Samuel Shapard for one dollar a parcel of land in the town of Caira known as lot No. 1, being one half acre on the south side of the main streets, with house and appurtenances, etc. In trust, upon the condition that Samuel C. Hooten was indebted to “William Guthery, Jr., of the county of Buckingham” in the amount of $200. If Samuel C. Hooten failed to pay the debt by the first day of January 1824, then by order of the indenture, Samuel Shepherd would sell at public auction the land, to satisfy the debt. As it came to pass, Samuel C. Hooten did default on paying his debt to Mr. Guthery [Guthrie], and Samuel Shapard sold the property to Thomas Smith for $150.  It is interesting to note that the Guthrie and Shapard family had close ties beginning in the 1820s. Not only were their plantations in close proximity, but, two of Samuel Shapard’s son would marry Guthrie women. Circa 1825, William E. Shepard married Louzanna Guthrie, and circa 1830, Burwell Shepard would marry Elizabeth E. Guthrie.  

In 1823, Samuel Shapard’s son William Edward Shepard reached the age of 21 years. Tax records of the time inform us that he was already in possession of two slaves. During this era, all men of age in Buckingham County were required to participate in drills and training with their local militia. Throughout the 1820s-1850s, William was a private in the First Battalion 24^th Regt., Virginia Militia. Circa 1825, William wed Miss Louzanna Guthrie (1804-1866). They would reside on his father’s plantation in Buckingham County for the duration of their lives, working the land as farmers. Although, William had the benefit of a prosperous youth, he seemed content as a planter. In 1830, William had a horse and carriage and only one slave. By 1840, he had increased his holdings to six slaves, and in 1850 and 1860, he maintained 5 slaves. Over the years, William and Louzanna Shapard were blessed with seven children: William B. (1827-1904), James Coleman (1829-1911), Harriett Lavinia (1832-1836), John Holman (1834-1864), Elizabeth “Bettie” Kish (1837-1876), Edward Poindexter (1840-1935) and Samuel Monroe (1842-1863). Tragically, three of their seven children would die young. Harriett passed away at four years of age in 1836. During the Civil War, Samuel Monroe Shepard joined Co. F Buckingham Institute Guard 20^th Virginia Infantry CSA and was killed at Gettysburg in 1863. Shortly thereafter, John Holman Shepard, who had joined Co. F Virginia Infantry CSA, was killed in June of 1864 at Petersburg. The heartbreak of losing children in war took its toll, and in 1866, their mother Louzanna (Guthrie) Shepard died in Buckingham County. Mr. William E. Shepard survived for an additional eight years, dying in May of 1874, also in Buckingham County.     

In 1825, Samuel Shapard’s son Burwell Shepard reached 21 years of age, and had in his possession one horse. For the next four years, Burwell was absent from the records, suggesting that he ventured out of Buckingham County, eventually returning to his father’s plantation in 1829. Soon after his return, he married Elizabeth Elenor Guthrie (1813-1879), and together they raised an impressively large family of 11 children: Elizabeth (1832-?), Amaranda E. (1835-1927), Napoleon B. “Pitt” (1837-1915),  Florida (1838-1866), Thaddeus (1841-1881), Cinderella (1844-1912), Parades (1847-1866), Cervantes (1848-1925), Palmyra (1851-1868), Geneva (1852-1917) and Edwarta (1855-1937). In addition to tending his own family, Burwell also had the kindness of heart to care for and board his younger brother Samuel A. Shepard who suffered from a mental defect since childhood. Burwell remained on his father’s plantation, carving out his own section, establishing himself as a planter. In 1834, Burwell acquired his first slave and his first carriage. In 1838, he had two slaves, and in 1840 he had three slaves. However, the next decade would prove to be remarkably prosperous for Burwell and his family as a Buckingham County planter. In 1850, his slave holdings would surge to sixteen negros, and records show that just before the Civil War, in 1860, he still owned nine slaves. Like his older brother William, in the 1820s through the 1850s, Burwell was a private in the First Battalion 24^th Regt., Virginia Militia, which was a requirement of all men of age in Buckingham County. Burwell Shepard died in October of 1865 and was buried in the Shepard Cemetery at his ancestral home of “Pine Forest” located about 6 miles east of Dillwyn, and then a mile south. His wife Elizabeth (Guthrie) Shepard passed away in July of 1879, and was interred next to him.   

In 1829, Samuel B. Shapard increased his land holdings in Buckingham County to 464 ½ acres, after he purchased 100 acres of land on Buffalo Creek from “Lenous Bolling” (also spelled as Linaeus Bolling, Lenaeous Bolling and Linneus Bolling).  Mr. Linaeus Bolling, Esq., (1773-1836) was a magistrate of Buckingham County, and a three term State Representative, having served in the Virginia General Assembly from 1799 to 1800. He was the son of Col. John Bolling (1738-1775) who, as early as 1748, owned a large plantation named “Chellowe” on the Whispering Creek in Buckingham County. After the death of his father, Linaeus Bolling inherited a portion of the plantation, and, in 1815, records show that he acquired Chellowe in its entirety, being 5,380 acres. When Mr. Bolling died in 1836, his residence estate was listed as 5,180 acres on Whispering Creek, illustrating that over the years, Mr. Bolling sold off only 200 acres from his ancestral plantation; 100 acres of which was obtained by Samuel Shapard, and the other, a parcel of 99 ½ acres, was purchased by Peter Stratton.   

In the 1820s and 1830s, Samuel Shapard and his sons were clients of Colman & Company of Cumberland County. The business was owned and operated by Archer A. Coleman who may have been a commission merchant or auctioneer of plantation produce, horse feed, tobacco, wares and slave rentals. Mr. Coleman was the last remaining partner in the firm, and after his death circa 1831, his probate records disclosed his clientele. On November 5, 1829, Samuel Shapard paid his balance in full, being $9.46. On November 25, 1829, Carroll M. Shepard paid his bill of $0.43. On December 1, 1829, William E. Shapard paid his “order on Lewis Jones” of $2.04. On December 19, 1829, Burwell Shepard paid his balance of $1.64. In 1831, William E. Shapard paid a bill of $0.10. Other clients of interest were Fleming Cayce and John Holman, Jr.

In 1830, Samuel Shapard was caring for 19 people under his household, including his 6 family members and 13 slaves. At that time, Samuel had 1 male slave under 10 years old, 4 male slaves between the ages of 10-23 years, 3 male slaves between the ages of 24-35 year, 1 males slave over 55 years old, 3 female slaves between the ages of 10-23 years and 1 female slave from 36-54 years old. That same year, Samuel owned three horses in Buckingham County that would increase to six horses in 1832. Although Carroll M. Shapard had his own plantation on Buffalo Creek, Samuel Shapard had the joy and benefit of working his plantation communally with his sons William E. Shepard and Burwell Shepard.

In 1835, the Buckingham County annual tax assessment was ordered by the County Court, commissioning enumerators to collect the land tax of all property owners, as well as, account for all personal property of heads of households, in terms of: male white polls over 16 years of age, slave polls over 12 years of age, horses, as well as, luxury items such as carriages, stud horses, etc. On May 13, 1835, the tax assessor came to the Samuel Shapard’s plantation on Buffalo Creek and imposed a charge of $2.18 for his 339 ½ acre tract, $0.05 for his 25 acre tract and $0.96 for his 100 acre tract. For his personal property, he was taxed $2.80 for one white poll, 10 slaves over the age of 12 years and 5 horses.

The following year, the tax assessor came to the Shapard plantation on May 5, 1836, and labeled his entry as “Samuel Shepard, Sr., Est.,” signifying that Samuel Shapard had died since the last assessment and that his “estate” now owned the property. From the two tax entries we know that Samuel Shapard died between May 13, 1835 and May 5, 1836. He would have been 73 years old at the time of his death. Although almost all pre-1869 court and probate records for Buckingham County were destroyed by fire, we know from an 1859 Cumberland County Deed that Samuel Shapard died testate, leaving a Last Will and Testament for the care of his wife and children. The deed pertains to a slave allotted to Samuel Shapard’s daughter Margara, who married Fleming Cayce, stating, “Creed D. Coleman (1809-1866) [attorney at law] was appointed trustee to receive and hold a negro girl Dolly allotted to the said Margara Cayce on the division of the slaves belonging to the estate of Samuel Shepard, deceased…for the benefit of herself and children according to the provisions of the will of Samuel Shepard, deceased.”  

Samuel Booker Shapard lived an extraordinary life during extraordinary times. He was born an English colonist, he fought in the American Revolution for independence, played a part in the founding of the United States, was highly educated for the times, practiced as an attorney, traveled extensively throughout the early American territories and states, operated a successful plantation, was a caring father to all his children - irrespective of their afflictions, and a supportive husband to his wife of 48 years. Although the gravesite of Samuel Booker Shapard has long been veiled by the advancement of years, it most assuredly resides on his plantation near Buffalo Creek in eastern Buckingham County.

After the death of Samuel Shapard, his will stipulated that his slaves and land be placed in a trust, controlled by his wife Susannah, of which she would have the full use of during the remainder of her natural life. And upon her death or remarriage, the slaves and their increase were to be specifically divided and distributed amongst her children for their benefit; however, the land appears to have remained in trust in perpetuity for the children’s benefit. In 1838, Susannah Shapard still had possession of 8 slaves, over the age of 16 years, and 5 horses. Over the years she would sell off the horses; however she would maintain as many as 15 slaves, over 12 years of age, up to the early 1850s.

In 1842 and 1843, “Susannah Shepard” filed three lawsuits in Cumberland County, Virginia. The first suit was against Alexander Trent and William S. McAshan who were indebted to Mrs. Shepard in the sum of $100 since January 1, 1839. The court found in favor of Mrs. Shapard and also awarded her interest on the debt at 6 percent per annum since 1839. The second lawsuit was filed in 1842 against Theodore Gannaway, Valentine Parrish and John H. Stratton whom were indebted to her in the amount of $450 since 1837. The jury found in favor of the plaintiff and awarded the recovery of the debt as well as 6 percent interest per annum until paid. The final lawsuit was filed in 1843 against Theodore Gannaway, Valentine Parrish and William P. Lamp in the amount of a debt of $649.22. The judgment was rendered in favor of Mrs. Shapard with interest from the time of the debt in 1842.  

Buckingham County records document, in August of 1851, that the “Samuel Shepard, Estate” had 7 slaves over the age of 16 years, 8 slaves between 12 to 16 years old, no horses and a wooden clock. This was the last year listing personal property tax belonging to “Samuel Shapard, Estate,” or “Susannah Shapard,” indicating that Susannah Shapard died between August of 1851 and August of 1852. Susannah Shapard was about 81 years old at the time of her death, and no doubt was buried next to her husband on their plantation in Buckingham County. Interestingly, all 464 ½ acres of Samuel Shapard’s plantation remained in trust amongst the heirs undivided at least until 1863. Even to this day, descendants of Samuel and Susannah (Holman) Shapard remain in Buckingham County, Virginia, some still residing near Buffalo Creek.