Harry Sheppard
(1872-1933)
&
Sarah Ann Wootton
(1872-1948)

Harry was born in 1872 in Wymeswold, born to William & Betsy Sheppard (nee Follows). His future wife Sarah Ann Wootton was also born in 1872, born to Joseph & Mary Wootton (nee Mills).  They are my Great Grandparents.

In the year 1872 the first FA Cup Final was played, it was between Wanderers F.C & the Royal Engineers at the Oval, Kennington, London. The first International between England & Scotland was also played and the first secret election ballot was held. Queen Victoria is currently on the throne, she opens the Albert Memorial in this year in memory of her late husband. Famous people born in that year include Roald Amundsen, the Norwegian Explorer who was the first person to reach the South Pole.

Harry was brought up on the farm at Wymeswold, originally at Wymeswold Lodge on Brook Street/ Narrow Lane, before moving to what we now know as Church Farm on Far Street, Wymeswold.  Church Farm is one of the oldest properties in the village, dating between 1510-1590.  The archaeology team at Leicester University found beams that were even older but they may possibly be old ship's timbers from Hall Farm on Brook Street, which was originally a merchants house.

Harry first appears in the Census of 1881, incorrectly spelt as Henery age 8. The property is noted as Sheppard's Farm, Wymeswold and he is living with his Father William and Mother Betsy, also along with his Brother Ernest, age 7 and Sister Fanny, age 5, Sheppard's Farm  may possibly be Fields Farm in Wymeswold. By the 1891 Census  Harry is aged 18, noted as a Farmers Son. His Father William has passed away in 1882. He is now living at Church Farm, East Road, Wymeswold along with his Mother Betsy age 45, Brother Ernest, age 16 and Sister Fanny age 15. Previously Betsy's  parents Joseph and Mary Follows and Brother John were tenants at Church Farm.

Harry farmed with the help of his brother Ernest at Church Farm. During the hay making season on one Saturday Ernest had the job of tying the hay into bundles and stacking them up. Harry climbed up the stack on the Sunday and because one of the bundles had not been tied correctly he fell and broke his hip. This forced Harry to walk with a limp in later life, Ernest felt very guilty about what he had done and this contributed to him eventually leaving the farm to seek other employment elsewhere, leaving Harry at Church Farm.  In the 1901 Census Harry is now noted as living with just his Mother Betsy, aged 55 at Church Farm.

Sarah Ann Wootton, Harry's future bride can be seen in the Census of 1881, aged 8  and in 1891, aged 18, living at Clay Street. She lived there with her Parents  Joseph and Mary, along with her Brother Thomas and Sister Florence. By 1901 they had moved to  Swifts Lane , Wymeswold.

Harry married Sarah Ann Wootton on the 1st July 1908 at St Marys Church, Wymeswold.  She was the Daughter of Joseph Wootton,  his occupation is noted as Grazier, he was also a builder by trade. He built Jubilee Cottages (2/4 Clay Street), my childhood home.  Harry & Sarah Ann worshiped under the Baptist faith and Sarah played the organ at the local Baptist Church. She moved over to the Baptist faith when her Father Joseph Wootton fell out with the local vicar, he was selling lottery tickets to make money and to Joseph this was considered as gambling and blasphemous. 

They are both mentioned in the 'Memories of a Country Girlhood' by  Ellen (Nell) Smith   :-

* Aunt Sarah, who used to ask us kids in turn for Sunday dinner. She was good cook, but what fascinated us was her husband, Uncle Harry, when he carved the joint. He would give us a delightful grin and ask:  "would  you like  a slice of dead pig?" or dead cow or dead sheep (which he pronounced "ship"). After carving each slice, he would lick the carving-knife both sides from handle to point. How he managed to do this without cutting his tongue, i cannot think.*

Bill Wootton remembers visiting Harry for Sunday dinner and Harry would place a lump of fat on the young Bill's plate and then wait for a reaction.

Harry & his Mother Betsy were tenants at Church Farm on 28th June 1909 when the farm and land came up for sale as part of 3 lots in a sale (Wymeswold, Burton-un-the-Wolds and Thorpe-in-the-Glebe) at the Bulls Head Hotel, Loughborough. The 1909 Sale particulars for lots 1 & 2 state the Wymeswold farm property and land at Thorpe in the Glebe is under the tenancy of Mr H Sheppard & Mrs Betsy Sheppard.  The land was described as excellent quality and is adapted for grazing for the production of the Stilton and Cream Cheese. Harry and his Mother were paying a rent of £76 per annum for the property and land. It also stated they were under notice to quit, so it must have been a nervous time for the family wondering whether they would be able to stay as tenants. Although they didn't buy it this time,  Harry & Betsy did carry on as tenants.  Lot 3 of the sale consisted of a farm house on the road from Wymeswold to Six hills and  land at Burton on the Wolds, this was under the tenancy of Joseph Follows, Betsy's Brother for an annual rent of £50. 

At the turn of the 18th century cheese making had become commonplace on most farms as the smallholders kept cows to supply their villages with milk, surplus milk would be turned into cheese. Some would be sold throughout the country, transported via the canals, but most cheese was still made mainly to be eaten by the family, farmhands and the local population.

Harry & Sarah had one child in December of 1909, a boy named Ronald Wootton Sheppard, my Grandfather. He would inherit the farm from his parents and live and farm at Church farm for his entire life.  In the Census 1911 Harry Sheppard, is now aged 38. Still at Church Farm, but now noted as Far Street, Wymeswold., also there are Harry's Wife Sarah Ann Sheppard and their young Son Ronald Sheppard. aged just 1.

The farm again came up for sale on 22nd March 1926, Harry & his family were still tenants. The farm was forced into sale by the direction of the Administrator of German Property. The farm was partly German owned and because of the War all German held property was to be sold (the Treaty of Peace Order, 1924). An Agnes Susan Muller is mentioned in the Conditions of Sale. This sale included the farm and land at Wymeswold and Thorpe in the Glebe as in the  original 1909 auction but not the land at Burton on the Wolds, this time Harry was successful and bought it all for £2250.

Harry continued to farm at Church Farm until he died on the 19th January 1933 and is buried at Rempstone Road Cemetery, Wymeswold.  Sarah Ann after being widowed moved into Jubilee Cottages (2/4 Clay Street Wymeswold), which had been built by her Father Joseph Wootton. She is registered there in the 1939 pre war register along with Lizzie Cook, both noted as carrying out domestic duties.

Sarah Ann passed away in 1948 and is buried alongside Harry.

Details

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Harry Sheppard (1872-1933)

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Born   19th May 1872  Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

Family Bible - Harry Sheppard Born May 19 1872

Baptised 21st May 1899  

with Sister Fanny & John James's Children. 

Census 1881. Henery - Age 8. 

Address -  Sch 107. Sheppard's Farm, Wymeswold.

Living With Father William(46) and Mother Betsy(36)

Brother Ernest(7) and Sister Fanny(5) .

Plus Borders & Servants (see William Sheppard for details)

Census 1891. Harry - Age 18.  Farmers Son.

 Address - Sch 1. East Road, Wymeswold. (Church Farm)

Living With Mother Betsy(45) , Brother Ernest(16) 

Sister Fanny(15).

Census 1901. Harry - Age 28.  Profession - Farmer 

 Working Farm.  Status - Worker.

 Address - Sch 89.  East Road, Wymeswold. (Church Farm)

 Civil Parish - Wymeswold. Ecclesiastical Parish - St Marys.

Living With Mother Betsy(55).

Married 1st July 1908 at St Marys Church, Wymeswold. 

(By Banns)

Harry Sheppard To Sarah Ann Wootton.  

 Harry Age 36 - Occupation Farmer. Resident at Wymeswold.

Father - William Sheppard - Occupation Farmer.

Sarah Age 36. Resident at Wymeswold.

Father - Joseph Wootton - Occupation Grazier.  

Presence of John Follows, Florence Harriet Eggleston.

Census 1911. Head Harry Sheppard Age 38.

Profession - Farmer.

Address - Far Street, Wymeswold.         

Wife Sarah Ann Sheppard(38) 

Son Ronald Sheppard(1)

Edward Brown(16) Profession - Farm Labourer.

Census 1921. Head Harry Sheppard  Age 49 1 Month.

Profession - Farmer.

Address - Church Farm Wymeswold. 

Wife S A Sheppard (49)  at home

R W Sheppard  (11 6 Months)

 Son  Wymeswold School.     

Harry & his Mother Betsy - tenants at Church Farm

 on 28th June 1909 when advertised for sale (Sale1).

Kelly's Directory of  Leicestershire & Rutland 1912

Sheppard Harry, Farmer, East Street

Harry bought Church Farm on 22nd March 1926 (Sale2)

Harry Sheppard died  19th January 1933   Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

Family Bible - Harry Sheppard died Jan 19th 1933

DETAILS

Burial Rempstone Road Cemetery, Wymeswold.

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Sarah Ann Wootton (1872-1948)

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Born   21st June 1872   Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

Census 1881. Sarah Ann Wootton - Age 8. 

Address - Sch 100. Clay Street , Wymeswold.

Living With Father Joseph(30), Mother Mary(29)

Brother Thomas(7) and Sister Florence(1)

Census 1891. Sarah Ann Wootton - Age 18. 

 Address - Sch 96.  Clay Street , Wymeswold.

  Living With Father Joseph(42), Mother Mary(40) 

  Brother Thomas(17) and Sister Florence(11)

Census 1901. Sarah Ann Wootton - Age 28.  

Profession - Assist in the Home.  

Status - Worker working at home.

Address - Sch 174. Swifts Lane , Wymeswold.

Civil Parish - Wymeswold. Ecclesiastical Parish - St Marys.

 Living With Father Joseph(51) , Mother Mary(49) 

 Brother Thomas(27) and Sister Florence(21).

Married 1st July 1908 at St Marys Church, Wymeswold.

 (By Banns)

Harry Sheppard To Sarah Ann Wootton.  

 Harry Age 36 - Occupation Farmer. Resident at Wymeswold.

Father - William Sheppard - Occupation Farmer.

Sarah Age 36. Resident at Wymeswold.

Father - Joseph Wootton - Occupation Grazier.  

Presence of John Follows, Florence Harriet Eggleston.

Census 1911. Sarah Ann Sheppard - Age 38. 

Wife - at home.  

 Address - Far Street, Wymeswold.         

Head Harry Sheppard(38).  Profession - Farmer.

Son Ronald Sheppard(1)

Edward Brown(16) Profession - Farm Labourer.

Census 1921.      S A Sheppard  Age 49  at home

Address - Church Farm Wymeswold. 

Head Harry Sheppard  (49 1 Month)

Profession - Farmer

R W Sheppard  (11 6 Months)

Son Wymeswold School  

Register 1939. Sheppard Sarah A  

Widow - Domestic duties unpaid. 

born 21 June 72      

Address - Clay Street, Wymeswold.         

Cook Lizzie - Domestic duties unpaid.

born 28 Mar 60

Sarah Ann Sheppard died   25th September 1948   Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

DETAILS

Burial Rempstone Road Cemetery, Wymeswold.

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 Notes on Children :

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Ronald Wootton Sheppard (1909-1992)

b. 12th December 1909 Wymeswold, Leicestershire.  

m.  Mona Hallam  2nd August 1937 at St Marys Church, Wymeswold.

Children Roland Harry John Sheppard (1938), Alec Sheppard (1939-1939),

 Brian Stanley Sheppard (1941), David Roy Sheppard (1942), Janet Mary Sheppard (1945-2022) 

d.  22nd January 1992,  Nottingham  

 *See direct descendant main page.

Photos

Above :  Photos of the renovated Church Farm, now a Grade II Listed property. 
One of the oldest residence in the village,  it is thought to date between 1510-1590.

FARM SALES.  Sale 1 -  1909 

Images of the first Farm Property & Land Sale 1909. 
28th Jun 1909 at the Bulls Head, Loughborough.
3 Lots including Wymeswold, Burton on the Wolds & Thorpe in the Glebe.

Above : Particulars of the first Farm Property & Land Sale 1909.
3 Lots including Wymeswold, Burton on the Wolds & Thorpe in the Glebe.

Above : Newspaper article advertising the 1909 sale.

FARM SALES.  Sale 2 -  1926

Images of the second Farm Property & Land Sale 1926.
22nd March 1926 at the auction rooms,  Cattle Market, Loughborough.

The Sale Lot this time included Wymeswold property & Thorpe in the Glebe farm land. The sale was forced by the direction of the administrator of German property, this was being forced through because of the recent First World War and rules against German nationals owning property. A Susan Agnes Muller is mentioned in the sale particulars.

Harry Sheppard was still the current tenant, this time he purchased the property & land.

Above : Harry bought the property & land at Thorpe in the Glebe for the princely sum of £2250 in the 1926 sale.
*Church Farm recently came up for sale (in 2024) and would now cost around £790,000 !

DOWN (Ronald Sheppard 1909)    :   UP (William Sheppard 1836)   :   UP (Joseph Wootton 1849)   

Sources :  See Acknowledgments