John Shepherd (1765-1832)
Hannah Armstrong (1770-1831)

William Shepherd and Hannah Armstrong are my 4th Great-Grandparents on the Sheppard side of the family line. John Shepherd was baptised on the 1st September 1765 at Wymeswold or Wimeswould. as it was called at that time, he was the Son of John and Elizabeth Shepherd.  In 1765 George III is the current monarch,  George famously suffered with his mental  health and he suffers a  malady or breakdown in this year,  perhaps the first signs of  his bipolar disorder.   The British Empire is in full swing, on the 22nd March Parliament passes the Stamp Act which is the first direct tax levied on the American colonies and on the 24th March Parliament passes the Quartering Act that requires the 13 American colonies to house British troops. On the 7th May HMS Victory is launched at Chatham Dockyard and on the 12th August Robert Clive secures the rights for the East India Company to collect taxes in Bengal from Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II.

My research at this level has been plagued by the number of John Shepherds (whatever the particular spelling) in the Walton\Wymeswold area. There are at least two sets of John and Hannah Shepherds with similar corresponding dates. I have found two marriages for John Shepherd at this time, one to Hannah Armstrong on the 11th September 1794 in Walton on the Wolds and the another to Hannah Cooper on the 4th December 1795 in Wymeswold. The date and place of the marriage to Hannah Armstrong plus the fact that the children including John (1796) continue to be baptised at Walton lead me to the conclusion that the marriage to Hannah Armstrong is the correct one, but I have not ruled out the marriage to Hannah Cooper completely. There is a burial headstone at St Marys church for a John and Hannah in 1801 and 1840, they are noted as Maltsters, perhaps this is Hannah Cooper.

I have found the marriage licence application made for John and Hannah Armstrong,  John would have been aged 28 and Hannah 24. Also on the  parish marriage record itself we can see  that John has signed and Hannah made her mark as she could not read and write, quite common for the time.  John and Hannah were residents of Walton on the Wolds at the time of her marriage, there is no mention of her father on the marriage licence. For a marriage licence, usually one of the couple or someone acting on their behalf  had to submit a sworn statement or allegation that there was no impediment of kindred or alliance to the marriage, and if one or both parties were underage and previously unmarried they needed the consent of a parent or guardian. There was also a requirement for the groom or someone acting on his behalf to enter a bond where a substantial amount of money would be forfeited if an impediment existed. John and Hannah's licence was signed by John Shepherd and Robert Hammond, the schoolmaster of Wimeswould.

The original church at Walton on the Wolds was dedicated to St Bartholomew and is believed to have been present in the village since at least 1220, however the church was rebuilt in 1736 and dedicated to St Mary. The current west tower has been dated back to this 18th century. The church experienced further rebuilding in the 19th century, including the nave and chancel, which had a Gothic influence. The church has been noted for its unusual use of red brick since rubblestone is more commonly used among churches in the locality.

The dates of John and Hannah's children William and John have also caused a problem. There is a William born to John and Hannah on the parish records on the 25th December 1795, baptised on the 9th January 1796 but the 2nd Son John was born in January 1796, clearly William or John's birth date is either incorrect or they are born to separate parents. I am more confident of John's dates being correct because I have his date of death from the family Bible which corresponds to his birth date. I have found a William Shephard's baptism date on the Bishops Transcripts, baptised 6th April 1795 which would make more sense, sometimes the records just aren't as tidy as you would wish for and sometimes they frustratingly have to remain a mystery.

Hannah passed away in 1831 and is buried on the 26th December 1831, aged 63 at Wymeswold. John passed away a year later in November 1832, he was buried on the 21st, aged 67 at Wymeswold.  He made his will in 1832 shortly before passing away, a summary is below :

Will of John Shepherd of Wimeswold 1832

This is the Last Will and Testament of me John Shepherd Of Wimeswold in the County of Leicester  Farmer and Grazier.

By the end of John's life he appears to be well off for the time, in his will he left £400 for his Son John, £500 to his daughter Elizabeth plus her mothers bed and furniture. Another Daughter Martha also received £500 and she received the best bed with furniture. His personal estate went to William, his oldest son and if he should die it would go to his Son John and his Grandson John. 

On the 13 July 1832 he added that as well as John receiving £400, he should also receive the narrow wheel wagon with side panels, a narrow wheel cart plus two of his cart horses and tackle. He also added later that Daughters Elizabeth and Martha should occupy the little cottage house and pay William rent of three pounds and three shillings for every year they occupied it. 

signed John Shepherd

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John Shepherd (1765-1832)

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Born   c1765  Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

Baptism. John Sheppherd 1 September 1765 Wimeswould.
Son of John Sheppherd & Elizabeth.

Marriage Licence.
Applied for on 10 Sep 1794.
John Shepherd - age 28 of  Walton on the Woulds to Hannah Armstrong- age 24.
Signed by John shepherd and Robert Hammond, the schoolmaster.

Armstrong Hannah = John Shepherd Lie 1794, Walton on the Wolds, LCS 9. 
Pallot's marriage Index, 1780-1837. 

Marriage at St Mary's Parish Church, Walton on the Wolds
John shepherd and Hannah Armstrong, both of this parish.
Married in this church by licence.
Eleventh day of  September 1794.
Signed by John Shepherd and  marked by  Hannah Armstrong.
In the Prefence of  William Roe and  Robert Hammond.
Leicestershire  Parish Marriages.

Will date. 11 January 1832  Wymeswold.

Parish Burial record. John Sheppard - November 21st 1832 aged 67 at Wimeswould.   
Leicestershire Burials Ref :DE1728/6

*to view more details on John's passing click here

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Hannah Armstrong (1770-1831)

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Born  c1770  Walton on the Wolds, Leicestershire.

Marriage Licence.
Applied for on 10 Sep 1794.
John Shepherd - age 28 of  Walton on the Woulds to Hannah Armstrong- age 24.
Signed by John shepherd and Robert Hammond, the schoolmaster.

Armstrong Hannah = John Shepherd Lie 1794, Walton on the Wolds, LCS 9. 
Pallot's marriage Index, 1780-1837. 

Marriage at St Mary's Parish Church, Walton on the Wolds
John shepherd and Hannah Armstrong, both of this parish.
Married in this church by licence.
Eleventh day of  September 1794.
Signed by John Shepherd and  marked by  Hannah Armstrong.
In the Prefence of  William Roe and  Robert Hammond.
Leicestershire  Parish Marriages.

Parish Burial Record.  Wimeswould December 26th 1831 aged 63 at Wimeswould. 
Leicestershire Burials Ref :DE1728/6

*to view more details on Hannah's passing click here

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EXTRA DATES & NOTES:

Bishops Transcripts :-

MARRIAGE : JOHN SHEPHERD & HANNAH ARMSTRONG. 11 September 1794

WILLIAM SHEPHERD Bap. 6 April 1795. Walton on the Wolds.

 JOHN SHEPHERD Bap. 9 February 1796. Walton on the Wolds.  (* 3rd GG)

 ELIZABETH SHEPHERD Born. 4 February 1800.  Bap. 30 March 1800. Walton on the Wolds.

 MARTHA SHEPHERD Born. 15 June 1803. Bap. 4 September 1803. Walton on the Wolds.

Alternative Facts :

? Other alt Marriages:-

HANNAH COOPER on 14 Dec 1795 Wymeswold. 

? Other alt Burials :-

Burial - Wymeswold Church
John Shepard died 4/12/1840 Age 81
& Wife Hannah died 14/2/1801 Age 57 

*Headstone - Maltsters, St Mary's church.

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 Notes on Children :

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WILLIAM SHEPHERD (1795-1870)

Alt.  Bap. 6 April 1795. Walton on the Wolds {Bishops Transcripts}

Alt.  born 25 Dec 1795.  Bap 9 Jan 1796  {Parish records}

Possible Child. {Born out of wedlock} ?

Joseph Shepherd Giles b. 1 March 1825 Brook Street Wymeswold

Registered East Leake Baptist Chapel

Born to William Shepherd & Sarah Giles

Census 1841 Brook Street Wymeswold

William Sheppard (40) - Farmer.

Elizabeth Sheppard (28)

Thomas Green (19) - Male Servant

James Tuckward (14) - Male Servant

John Sheppard (13)

Elizabeth Clinda (15) - Female Servant

Census 1851 Sch 54 Brook Street, Wymeswold

William Sheppard (56) - Head - Farmer of 187 acres of land.

Elizabeth Sheppard (50) - Sister - Housekeeper.

John Sheppard (23) - Nephew - Farm Servant

William Spencer (18) - Farm Servant

Both born Walton

Census 1861 Sch 57 Brook Street, Wymeswold

William Sheppard (64) - Head - Retired Farmer.

Elizabeth Sheppard (57) - Sister - Housekeeper.

Both born Walton

Died  17 Nov 1870 Age 76 Wymeswold.

Buried 22 Nov 1870 St Marys Church, Wymeswold

William is buried in the same plot as his Sister Elizabeth.

She worked as a housekeeper for William.

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JOHN SHEPHARD (1796-1868)

born 31 January 1796, bap. 9 February 1796 Walton on the Wolds

married Sarah Hill 17 March 1834 St Mary, Nottingham

died 25 June 1868.

*See Direct Descendant main page {John Shephard 1796}

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JOSEPH SHEPHERD (1797-1803)

born  15 December 1797, bap. 17 December 1797. Walton on the Wolds.

died  March 1803

Buried 5 March 1803. Joseph son of John & Hannah Shepherd. Walton on the Wolds.

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ELIZABETH SHEPHERD (1800-1868)

born    4 Febuary 1800, bap. 30 March 1800. Walton on the Wolds.

Census 1841 Brook Street Wymeswold

William Sheppard (40) - Farmer.

Elizabeth Sheppard (28)

Thomas Green (19) - Male Servant

James Tuckward (14) - Male Servant

John Sheppard (13)

Elizabeth Clinda (15) - Female Servant

Census 1851 Sch 54 Brook Street, Wymeswold

William Sheppard (56) - Head - Farmer of 187 acres of land.

Elizabeth Sheppard (50) - Sister - Housekeeper.

John Sheppard (23) - Nephew - Farm Servant

William Spencer (18) - Farm Servant

Both born Walton

Census 1861 Sch 57 Brook Street, Wymeswold

William Sheppard (64) - Head - Retired Farmer.

Elizabeth Sheppard (57) - Sister - Housekeeper.

Both born Walton

Died. 27 Oct 1868 Age 68 Wymeswold.

Elizabeth is buried in the same plot as her Brother William.

She worked as a housekeeper for William.

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MARTHA SHEPHERD (1803-1855)

born 5 June 1803, bap. 4 September 1803. Walton on the Wolds

Marriage.  2 May 1840  St Marys Church, Wymeswold

Marriage to Joseph Marshall - Age 36 Farmer of Bunny. 

Father Joseph Marshall 

Martha Sheppard - Age 38 of Wymeswold. 

Father John Sheppard - Farmer 

Census 1851 - Aston Lane Farm, Shardlow, Derbyshire

Joseph Marshall (47) Head

Farmer of 70 acres. Employing 5 Labourers

Born Bunny Nottingham

Martha Marshall (47) Wife

Born Whalton Leicester

Joseph Marshall (9) Son Scholar

Born Bunny Nottingham

Mary Savidge (19) Niece Farmers Daughter

Born Bunny Nottingham

Ann Savidge (21) Niece

George Robinson (19) Servant - ag Labourer

George Smith (16) Servant - ag Labourer

Hannah Broad (18) Servant - House Servant

Died  31 Jan 1855  age 52

Buried 3 Feb 1855

St James Churchyard Cemetery

Shardlow, South Derbyshire District, Derbyshire

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