CHAPTER 7:
A Few Loose Ends: The Children of Royal F. Shepherd
After the death of his father, Samuel D. Shepherd (1821-1896) returned to Daviess County, Kentucky and resided with his father’s cousins Thomas M. Shoemaker (1796-1863) & Royal F. Shoemaker on Panther Creek. Samuel also had his aunt Nancy Shepherd (daughter of Reuben and Sally Cocke) who married Richardson Jones, in 1813, as a resource, as they also had resided in Daviess Co, Kentucky, since about 1835. Samuel began work as a teacher, and did so for many years. In the early 1850s, he was elected to the office of County Surveyor and then later worked for the Internal Revenue Service as a gauger. He was described as, “well educated, a good neighbor, kind and courteous, though of a rather retired disposition, and took little interest in society.” On April 27, 1854, Samuel D. Shepherd married Melvina Downs (1833-1921) of Daviess County, Kentucky. She was the daughter of David (1802-1858) and Elizabeth Downs (1814-1850). Samuel and Melvina had no children of their own, however, they adopted their niece, Rhoda E. Shepherd (1865-1910) prior to 1880. Samuel D. Shepherd died on July 23, 1896, in Owensboro, Daviess County, Kentucky, at 75 years of age.
Royal Fleming Shepherd, Jr. (1824-1863), had moved to the town of Lynchburg, Virginia in 1847, at 23 years of age to work as a machinist. He had a strong proclivity to partake in spirits and other vices, which made him a lively companion, though on other occasions insufferable. On August 21, 1848, he married Jane Ann Cochran (1824-1863). On October 13, 1852, Royal and his wife Jane had their first baby, a girl they named Mary Emma Shepherd (1852-1891). Needing more secure living conditions, Royal purchased their first house in Lynchburg on August 15, 1853. The lot was one fourth of an acre, with 45 feet of frontage on Second Street (also known as Main Street) and was 80 yards deep. The house was partly unfinished, containing five rooms.
Unfortunately, becoming a family man only worsened Royal’s debauchery, anger and abuse. Only a few months after purchasing their house, Jane became so fearful for the safety of herself and her baby, that she moved out and sheltered at the home of her aged father George Cockran. As with many abusive relationships, there was a brief reconciliation with the empty promise of change. The relationship failed; However, not before Jane became pregnant with their second baby in 1854, a girl named Mildred Ann Shepherd (1854-1885). After Jane became pregnant, Royal fully abandoned his wife and children, and went head first into self-destruction. He ceased working and offered no financial support to his family.
After the death of Jane’s father, circa 1856, she and her two children were given shelter at the home of Mr. Segar S. Coffee. In 1857, Jane filed for divorce from her estranged husband, which was granted by the court. Numerous witnesses were called to testify to the bad character of Mr. Shepherd, stating that he was a “trifling man” and had “idle habits, [being] addicted to drunkenness, for several years he left Lynchburg for Richmond and was a good deal of the time confined in jail on account of his drunkenness.”
On March 10, 1862, Royal F. Shepherd, Jr., enlisted in Company A of the 4th Virginia Confederate Infantry at Wythe County, Virginia. He was a part of Stonewall Jacksons Brigade that fought at Chancellorsville, where he was wounded during the battle on May 3, 1863. Royal was taken to Camp Winder Army Hospital in Richmond, where he died on May 15, 1863, twelve days after his injury. Royal F. Shepherd, Jr., was buried in the soldier’s section of Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.
Tragically, Jane Ann (Cochran) Shepherd (1824-1863) died the following month on June 2, 1863, orphaning her two young daughters. Jane was buried next to her father at Lynchburg Cemetery. Jane’s daughter Mary Emma Shepherd (1852-1891) married Charles Woolwine on September 23, 1880. Jane’s daughter Mildred Ann Shepherd (1854-1885) married William Armistead Brown (1849-1924) on May 7, 1874. Both daughters were blessed with faithful caring husbands and many children during their years of marriage.
The author had found little information on what became of William Shepherd (1826-?) after the death of his father. William’s uncle Samuel Smith Cottrell (1782-1855) became his segregate father and helped him get established. On December 2, 1850, William was residing at his uncle Cottrell’s home in Richmond and was training in the mastery of saddle making. Beyond this date, nothing more is known. Perchance some future researcher will have the good fortune to discover the rest of his story and perhaps a continuation of his lineage.
After the death of her beloved father, Jane Ann Shepherd (1828-1895) was watched over by her uncle Samuel Smith Cottrell (1782-1855). She and her brother William (1826-?) moved into her uncle’s house in Richmond, where they both learned the art of saddle making. On November 18, 1852, Jane married Robert Harvey Shepherd (1823-1902) in Lynchburg, Campbell County, Virginia. Despite the similar surname, there was no previous familial connection between the families of Robert or Jane. In 1860, Robert H. Shepherd operated a foundry near Lynchburg under the firm name of Shepherd & Co., consisting of Robert H. Shepherd and his partners, J.W. Robinson, M.B. Tate and J.J. Mahone. Robert and Jane would spend their lives in Lynchburg. They were blessed with nine children during their 43 years of marriage.
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