John Shepherd, Jr. was born about 1760 in Spotsylvania, Virginia as the second child of John, Sr. and Sarah Shepherd. About the age of 15, John Jr. left Spotsylania, Virginia with his parents. The family settled in the Reddies River area of Wilkes County, North Carolina about 1775. John Shepherd, Jr. is the great, great grandfather of brothers Grover and Harrison Shepherd.
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One of the first areas settled in Ashe County was along the South Fork of the New River in the Old Fields Community. In the late 1700's, some larger farmers living on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains (Reddies River and Lewis Fork areas) would drive herds of cattle across the mountain to graze in the summer. While John Shepherd, Jr. apparently never lived in Ashe County, he did own land in the Old Fields area. |
Married Phoebe... Who?
The most intriging mystery concerning John Shepherd, Jr. has been the identity of his wife, whom he married about 1788. No marriage record exists for John Jr. in Wilkes County, NC where he lived. Various internet sites list John Jr's wife as Pheba (Phoebe) Eseentrino. The word "Eseentrino" does not exist anywhere except in references to the wife of John Shepherd, Jr on the internet. The source document for this mysterious surname has remained elusive -- until now!
Ashley Binnquist has apparently solved the mystery. She says,
I don't believe Essentrino is her last name. There is no evidence for this and no one knows where it came from. However, I believe someone misinterpreted the will as her husband stating her name as "Pheba Esentrino" BUT he actually wrote, "Pheba executrix" which means she was one of the executors of the will. Executrix was more commonly used term in the 1700's and not so much today, it means, "a female executor of a will." If you compare his handwriting for his "s" and "x" it is obvious there is no "s" in the word after Pheba's name. In addition the "O" is capitalized and not part of the word, I believe it was cut off and is the word, "of". Lastly, the second letter looks much like the "x" he writes in executor.
"Eseentrino" is not a surname. It is the result of a misinterpretation of the handwriting in John Shepherd Jr's will. So what is Pheobe's maiden name?
The most recent candidate for Phoebe's maiden name circulating the internet is Nations. According to this identification, Phoebe is of Cherokee descent and the daughter of Abraham Nations and Rebecca Moytoy. There is no evidence to support this theory other than the lore of Phoebe possibly having Cherokee ancestry. John Jr. and Phoebe's son, Larkin Shepherd, was a soldier of the War of 1812. According to his military record, Larkin "had blue eyes, fair skin and light brown hair hair" which doesn't sound like he had a Cherokee mother.
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It has been proposed that Phoebe's maiden name was Sartain, and that she was a daughter of James Sartain who lived near the Shepherds on Reddies River, but this is not clear. Most likely, Phoebe will eventually be identified as coming from a family that lived in, or near, the Reddies River area.
A Successful Man
Evidently, John Jr. was 'well to do' for his time. At his death, he left an estate of 866 acres and 10 negroes. He also had a variety of livestock including horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, geese, and bee-hives. The inventory of John's estate includes a still, which was not uncommon for a family to possess in those days.
Although it does not appear that John Jr. ever lived in Ashe County, NC, he did own land along the South Fork New River in the Old Fields area of Ashe. At the time, only a trickling of settlers actually lived in Ashe County. Perhaps John Jr. was investing in frontier real estate, or he may have used the land to graze cattle. In John Jr's day, some Wilkes County famers used to take cattle over the Blue Ridge for summer grazing on open lands in the Old Fields area. As Ashe County began to become more populated, the practice of grazing herds in Ashe by Wilkes farmers began to create problems for Ashe settlers. On November 28, 1812, a Petition to the Assembly of the State of North Carolina was executed by residents of Ashe to create a law whereby residents of other counties could not drive or range their cattle through Ashe County. The petition reads in part:
TO THE ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, We your petitioners Humbely Sheweth that the inhabitants of the County of ASHE have for many years & do at the present Labour under a greavous which prooves a injurey to the Citizens of the said county for a very greate degree knowing that your petitioners inhabit a county of the most trasured & (blurred)? part of the State their living depending measurabely on raising of stock the inhabitants of other countys by fourcing larg Stock of cattle, Horses & hogs in our county it dount onely consooms our Range But it Brakes into the famrs of the inhabitants by which reason meany of our Citizens are much injured, which exasperates the inhabitants & great injury has bin dun to stock on that account. It is suposed that the Citizens of Ashe kills the stock of farmers & farmers return the compliment and goes on so far as to threaten the lives of each other & c. We therfore humbely petition your honourable Body to pass a law to prevent Stock Evil Proseedance (?) & from driving & ranging of stock in distinct counties where the mastor or owners is not a citizen.
A deed dated February 6, 1802, records John's sale of 110 acres of land along both sides of the South Fork New River to Henry Harain. John also mentions other Ashe County lands in his Last Will and Testament that are to be sold by his executors following his death.
Remained on Reddies River
While the majority of John Jr's siblings left Reddies River for the greener pastures of Kentucky, Illinois, or Missouri, John Jr. lived out his days on Reddies River and died May 7, 1812, leaving 14 children, including one son that was unborn at the time of John's death. John knew of his wife's pregnacy at the time he wrote his will. He specified that the unborn child be named Pheba if a girl, or Benjamin if a boy.
John Jr. and Pheba are suspected to be buried at the Deep Ford Hill Cemetery in Wilkes Co., NC.
Among John Jr. and Pheba's children, Larkin, Sarah, Lucy, Presley, Charlotte, and Lewis have many descendants still living in the Wilkes/Ashe County areas. Other than Shepherd, some of the more popular surnames descending from these children include Vannoy, Colvard, Whittington, Phillips, Dancy and Staley.
Fourteen Known Children of John Jr. and Pheba Eseentrino Shepherd:
Had three known children by Rachell Powell:
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Had six known children by Bernie White:
Had five known children by Goldie Sarah Harmon:
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Left to right: Denise Heath Shepherd, Brenda Lawrence Shepherd, Holly Marie Shepherd, Max Elliot Shepherd, Eric L. Shepherd, Dylan Theo Shepherd (on father's shoulders), Robert Edwin Shepherd, Sr., Hudson Parker Shepherd (on Robert's shoulders), Alexander Thomas Shepherd, Nancy Markovsky, and Robert E. "Rob" Shepherd, Jr. Photo taken June 2008 in Nassau, Bahamas. |
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Russell worked as an aircraft mechanic for McDonnell Douglas and Northrop Aviation. Billie was a homemaker, an accomplished seamstress and avid gardener. Seeking respite from the smog (pollution) and hustle and bustle of southern California, in March, 1965, the family relocated to southeastern Ohio, the place of his birth. A 120-acre homestead, just south of Rio Grande in Gallia County, complete with a barn and numerous outbuildings, was purchased at courthouse auction. In the mid- 70's a second home was acquired in Lakeland, Florida, where they eventually relocated permanently. Prior to fully retiring, Russell utilized his skills as a heavy equipment operator doing land reclamation for American Cyanamid's mines in central Florida. Had two known children born in Long Beach, CA:
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Four known children by Martha Ashley:
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Had one known child by Majid Kayhan:
Had five known children by Quentin Rosevelt Hart:
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Had two known children by Larry Lewis:
Had one known child by David Treadway:
Had one known child by James Badger:
Had one known child by Michael Greer:
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Had one known child by Juanita:
Had two known children by Mr. Powers:
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Had two known children by John Shoun:
Had nine known children by Rosa Johnson:
Had one known child by Herbert Collins:
Had three known children by Saul Dillon:
Had five known children by Mary Ellen Crum:
Had six known children by Mary Dempsey born in Logan Co., WV:
Had four known children by Nancy Ann "Annie" Newsome born in Logan Co., WV:
Al was raised on the west side of Manhattan, NYC. A place called "Hell's Kitchen". He joined the NYPD in 1969 after serving two years in the US Army during the Viet-Nam War. He was assigned to the NYPD Emergency Service Unit in 1974 through 1984. Their mission was Heavy Rescue and Special Weapons and Tactics. He was a member of the original Anti-Terrorist Team formed by the NYPD (A-Team). Al was the first NYPD Officer to repel out of a helicopter. In addition ESU performed Hostage Recovery, Explosive Identification, and Removal.
In 1984 Al was assigned to the NYPD Intelligence Division. His duties were to protect foreign and domestic officials. Some of his assignments were protection of Fidel Castro and the Shah of Iran. This also included providing security for the President of The United States while working with the U.S. Secret Service. He was also responsible for conducting investigations into international criminal and terrorist organizations.
In 1985 Al was assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration, and designated a U.S. Marshal in addition to his NYPD rank of Detective. The case he was assigned to was an international investigation. When the case was over, all members were "Sworn to a Non-disclosure" Never to speak about the assignment.
In 1988 Al was reassigned to the Major Case Squad of the Special Investigations Division. His assignments included Bank Robbery, Kidnappings, and confidential assignments from the Chief of Detectives Office. His last case was his most challenging - the serial murderer "Zodiac" in 1991.
Al's awards include: 3 Exceptional Merit Medals; 9 Commendation Medals; 10 Meritorious Medals; 29 Excellent Police Duty Medals; 2 Citations for Bravery from the National Police Officers Association of America; 2 Medals from the Seamen's Institute for saving drowning person; Letter of Commendation from Vice-President George Bush in 1989; Military Order of the Purple Heart; 1974 Inducted into the NYPD Honor Legion.
Had four known children by Laura Sword born in West Virginia:
Had five known children by Greenville Runyon born in West Virginia:
Had three known children by Mary "Polly" White:
Had 13 known children by Dorchas C. Gibson born in Lee Co., VA:
Had four known children by Alice Baity:
Had eight known children by Erma Emily Staley:
Had seven known children by Sarah Elizabeth Williams:
Had four known children by Ernest Blevins:
Ray later moved to Pennsylvania where he worked at The Downingtown Paper Mill as a paper tender, and a machinist with Allisters Company of Exton. Ray is buried at Rock Cemetery in Honey Brook, PA;Had six known children:
Had four known children by Viola Walker:
Had two known children by Anna Mae Millard:
Had one known child by Jonas Sheets:
Had two known children by Mary Ann Dancy:
Had two known children by Margaret __?__:
Had three known children by Allie Roberts:
James Vannoy, Guardian of Benjamin Sheppard. dec. Returns as due to Benj. Sheppard on the Aug. Term of Wilkes Courts 1830, as due to said Sheppard Seven Hundred and Ninety-eight Dollars and 27 Cents and that he has paid since that time to Larkin. George. Allen. Presly & Lewis Sheppard. John Phillips the Husband of Polly Sheppard & James Phillips the Husband of Charlotte Sheppard and Retain'd myself the Husband of Sally Sheppard all Heirs and distributies of Benj. Sheppard dec. the sum of five Hundred and fifty five dollars. And to Wiley Sheppard the sum of Twenty-five dollars and fifty cents upon an Attachment against said Wiley, also one of the Heirs & distributees of said Benj. Sheppard dec. And also to Wiley Sheppard upon a Garnishment as one of the Heirs & Distributees of Benj. Sheppard $39.00 And to Payton Phillips upon attachment and Garnishment against Jno. Sheppard Heir and distributive as aforesaid $33.00 And to William W. Niel $3.00 upon Attachment & Garnishment against Jno. Sheppard And to Benjamin Sheppard himself $108.00 and for the formal expences as Recd. and Relative, and pro tanto Executor DeSon tort four dollars ($767.50) Sign'd this 2nd day of Aug. 1831.
James Vannoy Guard.
North Carolina ) August Term 1831 The foregoing Return was Read and Recd. by the court.
Test.
Had two known children by Mr. Strout:
Had one known child before marriage:
Had seven known children by Elizabeth Brewster:
Had one known child by Alex White:
Had nine known children by Martha E. Moore Gibson born in Lee Co., VA:
Had two known children by Jane Brookshire:
Had three known children by Vera Foster:
Had one known child by Martha Vanzant:
Had one known child by Michael Baldwin:
Had two children before marriage:
Click here to see family photos from the 2005 Shepherd Reunion of Rudolphus Shepherd descendants held in Wilkesboro, NC..
Had seven known children by Tada Cleary:
Wilkes County )
R. Martin, Clk.
Along with information from the normal genealogical sources (Census Records, History Books, Cemetery Records, etc.) the following people have contributed family history information and/or photos presented on this page. If you have information/photos on the descendants of John Shepherd Jr., and would like to see your family history added to this page, send an email to brodrick@reddiesrivershepherds.com
Allen Shepherd - Jodie Robinson (Photos and information on the Percy Sheppard Family).
Louis Shepherd, Sr - Joyce Layton (Photos of Rowan "Roe" Shepherd and children); Boby Boone of Pinellas County, FL (Information on Calvin, Lewis, and Joshua Shepard, sons of James and Julia Patrick Shepherd); Darren Shepherd (Info on descendants of Rowan "Roe" Shepherd); Jennifer Shepherd (Info on descendants of Rowan "Roe" Shepherd). Return
CONTRIBUTORS