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

Harry sheppard 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).  Harry and Sarah are my Great-Grandparents on the Sheppard/Wootton family tree.  The Sheppard family were connected to farming and agriculture but the Woottons were known for their links to the building trade.

In the year 1872 when Harry was born, 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.

Harry was brought up on farms around Wymeswold before moving to what we now know as Church Farm on Far Street, Wymeswold within the village. His  Mother Betsy's parents had been a tenants there in 1871.  In the 1881 Census Harry  is aged just 8 and living with his parents and siblings at Sheppards Farm, which I believe is just outside the village.  In the 1891 Census Harry  is aged 18 and noted as a farmers son living  at East Street, Wymeswold. (Church Farm).  He is living with his Mother Betsy and Brother Ernest, aged 16 and Sister Fanny, aged 15. 

Harry's Sister Fanny would move on after marrying John James but Harry stayed on and 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.  

Sarah Ann Wootton, Harry's future wife lived on Clay Street as a child, which has been the location for Wootton's buiders yard for many years.  The Wootton's property which was located next to the village Hall, is now demolished but  my childhood home Jubilee Cottages is still there, which was built by Sarah Ann's Father Joseph Wootton. Sarah Ann is noted as living at Clay Street in 1881 and 1991, before moving to Swifts Lane. She was baptised on  the 23rd  Feburary  1890, when she was aged 17,  as per the normal practise with the Baptist faith.

Harry would marry Sarah Ann Wootton on the 1st July 1908 at St Mary's Church, Wymeswold, they were married by the traditional  Banns, read out in church in the previous weeks leading up to the service. You can see all the congregation in a photo below,  my ancestors on both sides of the family are present in the picture.

Both Harry and Sarah  are mentioned by their Niece in the 'Memories of a Country Girlhood' by  Ellen 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.*

* My Aunt Sarah once sent me to the shop in the square (Wymeswold) for several articles and she recited to me the things she needed, adding at the end "a pennyiower". I could not think what this was ,but i asked all the same. As the shopkeeper didn't know either, she told me to ask my Auntie to write it down. "Good gracious me!" said auntie, " I owe the lady one penny." *

Harry was quite a character, 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 and Sarah Ann worshipped under the Baptist faith and have a strong connection to local Baptist Church on Wysall Lane, Sarah played the organ there regularly and Harry's parents William and Betsy Sheppard are both buried there. Harry and  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. Although they didn't buy it at the time.

The farm again came up for sale on 22nd March 1926, Harry & his Mother Betsy 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. It was Lot 1 and Lot 2 of the original 1909 auction that was for sale this time around. Harry bought it for the princely sum of  £2250. The farm is one of the oldest properties in the village, dating back to the 1500's.

They had one child in the December of 1909, a boy named Ronald Wootton Sheppard, my Grandfather, his name reflecting both sides of the family.  In the 1911 Census young Ronald is listed as living with his parents at Church Farm, aged just 1, Harry's Mother Betsy has moved out after their wedding.  Ronald would live and farm at Church Farm for his entire life, taking over from Harry when he passed away. Harry died on the 19th January 1933 and is buried at Rempstone Road Cemetery, Wymeswold. Sarah Ann died much later in 1948, she moved and lived in her later years at Jubilee Cottages (2/4 Clay Street) which she inherited from her Father, she is buried alongside Harry at the Wymeswold Cemetery.

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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.
St Mary's Church, Wymeswold.

Census 1881. Henery - Age 8. 

Address - 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 - East Street, Wymeswold. (Church Farm)

Living With Mother Betsy(45) , Brother Ernest(16) and Sister Fanny(15).

Census 1901. Harry - Age 28.  Profession - Farmer Working Farm.  Status - Worker.

Address - East Road, Wymeswold. (Church Farm)

Civil Parish - Wymeswold. Ecclesiastical Parish - St Marys.

Living With Mother Betsy(55).

Married 1st July 1908 at St Mary's 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(38).  Profession - Farmer.

Address - Far Street, Wymeswold.         

Wife Sarah Ann Sheppard(38) 

Son Ronald Sheppard(1)

Edward Brown(16) Profession - Farm Labourer.

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

Census 1921. Head Harry Sheppard(49).  Profession - Farmer.

Address - Wymeswold.         

Wife Sarah Ann Sheppard(49) 

Son R W Sheppard(11)

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

Died   19 January 1933, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

Family Bible - Harry Sheppard died Jan 19th 1933

Burial Rempstone Road Cemetery, Wymeswold.

*To see more information on Harry's passing click here

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Sarah Ann Wootton (1872-1948)

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Born   21 June 1872, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

Census 1881. Sarah Ann Wootton - Age 8. 

Address - Clay Street , Wymeswold.

Living With Father Joseph(30), Mother Mary(29) and Brother Thomas(7) and Sister Florence(1)

Baptism  23  Feb  1890 Age 17   Wymeswold.  Born  21 June 1872.
Father  Joseph Wootton .  Mother  Mary Ann

Census 1891. Sarah Ann Wootton - Age 18. 

Address - Clay Street , Wymeswold.

Living With Father Joseph(42), Mother Mary(40) and 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 - Swifts Lane , Wymeswold.

Civil Parish - Wymeswold. Ecclesiastical Parish - St Marys.

Living With Father Joseph(51) , Mother Mary(49) and Brother Thomas(27) and Sister Florence(21).

Married 1st July 1908 at St Mary's 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. Sarah Ann Sheppard - Age 49. Wife - at home.  

Address - Wymeswold.         

Head Harry Sheppard(49).  Profession - Farmer.

Son R W Sheppard(11)   - at School.

Register 1939. Sarah A Sheppard -  Widowed -  Unpaid domestic duties  

Address - Clay Street, Wymeswold.         

Date of Birth  - 21 Jun 1872.

Also at the property - Lizzie Cook - Unpaid domestic duties.

Date of Birth  - 28 Mar 1860.

Died   25 September 1948, Wymeswold, Leicestershire. 

Burial Rempstone Road Cemetery, Wymeswold.

Will   5 April 1943, Moss, Deane & Moss

*To see more information on Sarah Ann's passing click here

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 Notes on Children :

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Ronald Wootton Sheppard (1909-1992)

Born   12th December 1909 Wymeswold

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

Died    22 January 1992 Nottingham.

{See main descendant page - Ronald  Wootton Sheppard}

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