Robert Shepherd was born June 17, 1739 in Saint George's Parish, Spotsylvania County, Virginia to George and Elizabeth Day Shepherd. He married Sarah Rash (b. April 23, 1748) on October 1, 1765 in Spotsylvania, Virginia.
An Early Settler of Reddies River
On November 20, 1776, Robert & Sarah, and George, Jr. & Mary Shepherd, sold a portion of the George Shepherd, Sr. homeplace. This property was given to Robert and George, Jr. by their father and they sold it to their brother-in-law, Benjamin Holloway, husband of their sister Anne. Immediately thereafter, Robert followed his brother, John Shepherd, Sr., to Wilkes County, North Carolina "squatting" on property located on Reddies River and adjoining property claimed by John.
In the early spring of 1778, Robert entered the property on which he was living and a state grant for 200 acres was subsequently issued (grant #844). The above entry described the property as "200 acres beginning near the ford of Reddies River on John Shepherd's line, running West, North, South, thense East, including the right whereon I, Robert A. Shepherd, now lives for Comfort." By 1797, Robert owned as much as 482 acres in the Reddies River area.
Revolutionary War
There is no evidence that Robert actually fought in the Revolutionary War, but he was at least a patriot and furnished the troops with provisions. U.S.A. Army accounts with troops in North Carolina shows that Robert Shepherd furnished the militia one horse for which he was paid. On page 205 of the same book is another reference to Robert furnishing 13 1/2 bushels of corn for which he was also paid.
Helped Establish Early Churches
Robert Shepherd, along with his brother John, and George McNeil, established the first church in Reddies River which was located on the crest of Deep Ford Hill, just above lands owned by John Shepherd, Sr. The Deep Ford Hill Church was established as early as 1783 and was in existence as late as 1796.
Following the church at Deep Ford Hill, was the Reddies River Church of Christ that was
constituted on April 7, 1798. Robert and Sarah Shepherd were constitutional members of this new
church. When the Reddies River Church of Christ was created, its members gathered for services alternately at the Deep Ford Meeting House and Brother Robert Shepherd's house.
Died with an Old Disorder, the Stone and Gravel
Robert Shepherd died June 5, 1817 in Wilkes County, NC. He and Sarah are believed to be buried at the Deep Ford Hill Cemetery. The following revealing quote is from the Robert Shepherd Bible:
A Broken Shepherd Line is Mended
Unfortunately, an unbroken line of Shepherd descendants of Robert and Sarah Rash is not known to exist. Among Robert and Sarah's 10 children, only two were boys -- John and James -- apparently named for their Shepherd uncles. John married Mary Kilby in 1802, but he died in 1803 at the age of 24 before producing any offspring. James is not named in his father's will of 1817, so it is assumed he died before that time, apparently unmarried.
However, Robert Shepherd was a great, great, great grandfather of brothers Grover and Harrison Shepherd. So, how does that work? One of Robert's daughters, Agnes Shepherd, married Thomas Irwin. One of their daughters, Alley Irwin, married Larkin Shepherd, a grandson of John Sr. and Sarah Jennings Shepherd. Therefore Shepherd descendants of Larkin and Allie Irwin Shepherd are descendants of both Robert Shepherd, and his brother, John Shepherd, Sr.
Most of Robert and Sarah Shepherd's children married and moved west, setting in Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana. Their daughter, Mary, who married James McNeil, remained in the Wilkes/Ashe County areas of North Carolina, where many of their descendants are found today.
There are also many descendants of Robert and Sarah Shepherd in the Wilkes/Ashe/Alleghany County areas that are descended from their daughter Agnes, who married Thomas Irwin. While Thomas and Agnes Shepherd Irwin also moved west, two of their adult children remained in North Carolina. One was Elijah Irwin, who married Elizabeth Goodman and settled in Alleghany Co., NC. The other was Allie Irwin, who married Larkin Shepherd, and made their home in the Reddies River area.
Ten Known Children of Robert A. and Sarah Rash Shepherd:
Had three known children by Matilda Yeary:
Had one known child by Vera Schulmeyer:
Had four known children by Doris Michelson:
Had eight known children by Elizabeth Spencer born in Russell Co., KY:
Had two known children by Mary Stewart:
In 1876, they moved from the farm to a house they had built on 10 acres in Walla Walla. Michael was a county commissioner for six years. Amelia was a lady commissioner who attended the World's Fair in 1885. She was also a musician and a member of the Ladies Relief Society. On October 5, 1880, President Rutherford B. Hayes, his wife, and two nieces, were guests in the Ward home. Apparently, it was one of a very few homes in Walla Walla which was large enough to house the president and his family. The house, known as The Historic Ward Home, was later used as an apartment building. As of 2010 the house is being restored by the current owner. The Historic Ward Home is located at 228 East Poplar in Walla Walla, Washington.
Click Here to see a report of the Presidential visit to Walla Walla, Washington from the book, Walla Wall, Portrait of a Western Town 1804 - 1899 by Robert A. Bennett (Walla Walla: Pioneer Press, 1980).
Click Here to see an article on the Historic Ward Home from the book, Walla Walla / Her Historic Homes, Volume III by Penny Andres.
Michael and Amelia Harmon Ward had one known child:
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 Robert Shepherd, and would like to see your family history added to this page, send an email to brodrick@reddiesrivershepherds.com
Elizabeth Shepherd - Judy McNiel Williams.
Agnes Shepherd - Judy Armstrong, Kellye Kathryn Betancourt.
Sarah Shepherd - Scott Manwaring.
Rebecca Shepherd - Sandra Wanamaker, B. Koch, editor of WallaWallaHistory.com (Photos of The Historic Ward Home and scans from the books, Walla Walla, Portrait of a Western Town 1804 - 1899 by Robert A. Bennett [Walla Walla: Pioneer Press, 1980] and Walla Walla / Her Historic Homes, Volume III by Penny Andres).
Robert Shepherd, son of George and Elizabeth Shepherd, was born in Spotsylvania County, State of Virginia June 17, 1739. Sarah Shepherd, formerly Sarah Rash, daughter of Joseph and Mary Rash was born in Spotsylvania County, Virginia April 23, 1748, and is now the wife of Robert Shepherd; aforesaid Robert died June 5, 1817 in his own home on Reddies River, after 17 days illness with an old disorder, the stone and gravel--where he came from Spotsylvania County, Virginia on Dec. 7, 1776. He lived 40 years in the same place; age 77 years, 11 months and 7 days, after subtracting 11 days for the old style birth." [1]
Had ten known children by Nancy Baker:
William McQueary, Jr., son of William and Nancy Shepherd McQueary
Peter Thurman McNeill, Sr
Bob and Freda Jones McNeil with children (l-r): Sherry, Bucky and Cindy
Elihu A. McNeill and son James in McNeill's Department Store. Elihu started the E.A. McNeill Store in 1889 and it remains in the family today, now known as McNeill's Department Store in West Jefferson, NC.
Mary Alice Sides McNeill
Larkin Alfred McNeil
William Avery & Easter Ethel Sexton McNeil
William Smith and Bessie Turner McNeil with children (l-r): Fred Allen, Mary Elizabeth and Maude Evelyn.
Wanda Lee McNeill Little
The 12 adult children of Kirby and Rebecca Faw McNeil. Back row (l-r): Wint Quincy, Clate, Clyde, Oscar, Alton, Eugene, Thomas and Iron. Front row (l-r): Edna, Belle and Ola.
Carol Dean Handy McNiel
Children and grandchildren of Squire Jackson and Caroline Andrews Irwin. Back row l-r: Mack Irwin, Catherine Anders, Squire Irwin, Caroline Irwin, Mary Irwin, Mack's wife. Ellen Billings, holding Floyd Billings. Second row l-r: Mart Anders, Della Anders, Effie Billings. Front row l-r: Rosa Irwin, Margie and Elemore Billings, Frank Irwin, Ollie Irwin, Coy Irwin, Phoeba Billings, and Josie Irwin.
Mack & Mary Poe Irwin with three of their children (l-r): Frank, Josie and Florence.
Frank Irwin
Joseph Ephraim and Emoline Reynolds Irwin with sons Carl and Grady
W. Carl and Mallie Wilson Irwin
Gene Ralph Irwin
Walter Monroe Irwin
Marianna Burton Irwin
Franklin Irwin
Emma Jane Judd
Dora Eva Munden Keesling
Bob and Nellie Mae Keesling Alspaugh with children in 1937
Historic Ward Home
Photographed June 8, 2006.
Photo by B. Koch WallaWallaHistory.com
Historic Ward Home
Photographed January 9, 2010 undergoing restoration.
Photo by B. Koch WallaWallaHistory.com
US President Rutherford B. Hayes (front left) and Mrs. Hayes (front center) pose with citizens of Walla Walla, Washington at the Ward Home in 1880.
NOTES
CONTRIBUTORS