THE SHEPARDSON FAMILY
A RECORD OF THE EARLY GENERATIONS IN AMERICA.
BY GRACE CLARK SHEPARDSON.
Sometime in the year 1628-9, from what ship no record remains to tell, Daniel Shepardson landed at Salem, Mass., being one of a numerous company who sought homes in America at that period of English history. A tradition indicates that he was accompanied by his brother, John, who soon died of lockjaw as a result of a dispute in which a spade was thrown at him by his adversary. Some of the immigrants moved to Charlestown where Daniel Shepardson is recorded as a citizen in 1632. He was not one of the wealthy members of the Puritan body, but was a craftsman, a blacksmith by trade.
The place of his origin is not known, but members of the family are to be found in Yorkshire, England, now (1907), and, as the name indicates a Scandinavian ancestry, he may have been from that part of the country.
He was not an educated man, his will is acknowledged by a cross, with "the marke of Daniell Sheopardson" beneath it. Like most of the Puritans he was intensely superstitious, a believer in signs and omens, and when one day, as he was working at his forge, a stone fell from it and crumbled into powder, he recognized the evil portent and gave to his wife the nails which he was just making, saying, "They will come in handy some day." The nails were kept, and when he died, in Maiden, Mass., 26 July 1644, they were used in the making of his coffin.
He had his home with three acres of land, his blacksmith shop, and fifty acres of pasture and meadow land, scattered here and there, so that his widow, Joanna, who had the use of the property during her lifetime, was quite well fixed for a woman of the day. His family comprised a son, Daniel, and two daughters, Lydia and Joanna. His wife's maiden name or the date of the marriage is not known.
The second DANIEL, following in his father's footsteps, was a blacksmith by trade. He made his home at Maiden, Mass., for many years and was prominent in town affairs.
On April 1668, he married Elizabeth Call and they had six children, three sons and three daughters.
His name appears on a petition to establish a settlement at Atfieboro, Mass., dated October 17, 1694. He seems to have owned land there as early as 1660. He lived to an advanced age and was long called "old goodman Daniel Shepardson".
From the printed pamphlets of 1907, our line follows down from "Nathaniel", third son of Elizabeth (Call) and Daniel Shepardson, 2nd.
(Daniel, 1st; Daniel, 2nd; Nathaniel, 3rd)
NATHANIEL SHEPARDSON, may have moved from Attleboro, Mass., to Rehoboth, where two of his children were baptized, although all are recorded in Attleboro. His wife was Mary -----. From similarity of names and some other circumstances, he may be the one referred to on Page 236 of "Hinman's Connecticut Settlers" as "Nathaniel Shippason" widow Mary, of Hebron, estate £207. Mary (-----) and Nathaniel Shepardson had many children and of the five recorded in Attleboro records -- JOHN SHEPARDSON, born June 25, 1712, is next in our line.
(Daniel, 1st; Daniel, 2nd; Nathaniel, 3rd; John, 4th)
JOHN SHEPARDSON married Abigail Richardson and moved to Ash Swamp, later called East Haddam, Conn. Abigail (Richardson) and John Shepardson have nine children listed in the 1907 history. The order of births is not known or if there were others. ANCEL, born January 14th, 1759, is a name more familiar to us in the records of Fairfax and Fletcher, Vermont.
FRANKLIN COUNTY, VERMONT
Jacques Cartier, a French navigator, who commanded an expedition to explore the Western Hemisphere, was, probably, the first European to lay eyes on the beautiful mountains of Vermont. On the 2nd day of October, 1535, he arrived with a few others at an Indian settlement called Hochelaga, afterwards called Mount Royal, later Montreal. Donnacona, an Algonquin Chief, took him to the top of Mount Royal and showed him the beautiful country lying south and east, and told of the great rivers and inland seas, of smaller rivers and lakes in the fertile lands belonging to the warlike Iroquois. These Indians had settlements in the interior of the state, now called, Vermont, but whose name, to the Chief, was Iroquoisia.
Many years later, Samuel de Champlain, accompanied by several friendly Hurons, proceeded to the locality described by Cartier, and on July 4th, 1609, entered the Lake to which he gave his name. The French claimed Lake Champlain for many years, for the above reason.
Franklin County was incorporated by an Act of the General Assembly of Vermont, which passed November 5th, 1792. It once formed a part of the original counties of Albany, Charlotte, Bennington, Addison, Rufland and Chittenden. The boundaries of Franklin County were changed several times by other Acts of the General Assembly, however, since 1835 it has remained practically unchanged. At that time it contained, besides Avery's Gore, fourteen towns, namely: Bakersfield, Berkshire, Enosburg, Fairfax, Fairfield, Fletcher, Franklin, Georgia, Highgate, Montgomery, Richford, Sheldon, St. Albans and Swanton.
Franklin County is bounded North by the Province of Quebec; East by Orleans and Lamoille Counties; South by Chittenden County and West by Grand Isle County, from which it is separated by Lake Champlain.
The northern part of the County is watered by the Mississquoi River and the southern part by the Lamoille River, into which other rivers and many smaller streams empty. The eastern part of the county is high and broken land and extends to the western range of the Green Mountains. The western part, however, is generally level, but the whole county contains uncommonly good farming and grazing lands. The scenery, in the different parts of the county, is unusually grand and picturesque. The hills, valleys, ponds, rivers and streams, situated in the various towns, makes Franklin County very beautiful and attractive to all, and the fertile land and waters, contribute in making it most productive for farming and manufacturing.
The town of Fairfax, from an early history, is described as lying in the southern tier of towns of Franklin County. It was chartered August 18th, 1763 by Bennington Wentworth, Governor of the Province of New Hampshire and was bounded, by charter, as follows:
'Beginning at the north-easterly corner of Westford; thence running westerly by Westford, as that runs, to the north-westerly corner thereof, which is also the south-easterly corner of Georgia; thence turning off northwardly, and running by Georgia aforesaid, as that runs to the north-easterly corner thereof; thence turning off easterly, and running so far on a parallel line with the northwardly side line of Westford, aforesaid, as that a straight line drawn from that period to the north-easterly corner bound of Westford aforesaid, shall include the contents of six miles square - 23,040 acres.
Its surface is broken and hilly, affording excellent pastures, and abundant crops of hay and grain. None of its hills can claim a mountain name, though Buck Hill comes nearest; over this passes the Fairfield Road, a rise and fall each way of one mile.
The Lamoille River, one of the largest in the State, runs through the southern part, emptying into Lake Champlain in Colchester, near the southern line of the Town of Milton, and it was along its banks that the first settlements were made. It is stated, concerning the fertile land hereabout: "A razor could be drawn through its soil without dulling it." Brown's River, Great Brook, the Great Falls and other streams help to irrigate the lands and furnish power for saw-mills, grist-mills and other endeavors needed to maintain the setfiers. One such brook that empties into the Lamoille River is Stone's Brook. It rises in Fletcher, runs through broken country and has little bottom land, however, it affords the power that drives the works of the Shepardson's carding and clothing works, saw-mill, foundry and black-smith shop; the location being known as Shepardson Hollow, in Fairfax.
The TOWN OF FLETCHER, FRANKLIN COUNTY, VERMONT, from an early history, is described as lying in the Southeast corner of the County. It was chartered, August 20th, 1781, by Thomas Chittenden, Governor of Vermont. The Charter was preserved through the early years, renovated in the late 1960s, and now hangs in the Town Clerk's Office in Fletcher.
Fletcher is bounded on the West by the Town of Fairfax; on the North by the Town of Fairfield and the Town of Bakersfield; on the East by the Town of Waterville and the Town of Cambridge; on the South by the Lamoille River. Its area is estimated to be 24,040 acres.
The Town is comprised of two farming villages, Fletcher Center and Binghamville, being approximately one mile apart. The land is hilly but well watered, this, together with the hard work of all its residents has made Fletcher a successful farming community through the years. One of its great natural resources are the beautiful and productive maple orchards. While many great stands of timber, as well as the maple orchards, have been cut off, Fletcher has always been well known for the quantity and quality of its maple produce.
The Lamoille River forms the southern boundary of the Town; in the north lies Metcalf Pond, approximately one mile long and half as wide; the outlet, at the southern end of the Pond forms a brook, which flows through the northern end of the town, turns and runs into Fairfield. In the west, about a mile from the Center, lies a smaller pond, called Half-Moon, due to its shape. The outlet from this pond joins Stone's Brook, the Big Brook, continues on through Binghamville, into Fairfax and empties into the Lamoille River, as mentioned above in the brief natural history of the Town of Fairfax.
It is not my intention, my dear children and others, to make this a history of the times, good and bad, that your ancestors lived and struggled through, but, merely to let you know who they were. To give you, the 10th Generation, in our line, a written remembrance of the adjoining towns of Fairfax and Fletcher, Franklin County, Vermont, in which some members of the family have lived since 1805. More specifically, you, the children of Grace (Clark) and Harold Samuel Shepardson, are of the 10th generation of Shepardson's, and of the 6th generation to have lived here continuously, as of 1973.
(Daniel, 1st; Daniel, 2nd; Nathaniel, 3rd; John, 4th; Ancel, 5th)
ANCEL SHEPARDSON, son of Abigail (Richardson) and John Shepardson, was born January 14th, 1759, probably at East Haddam, Conn. On July 25th, 1782, he married Charlotte Colgrove, who was born February 20th, 1762.
Sometime after 1782, like many other early settlers, ever seeking greater opportunities and security for their families, Ancel and his wife, Charlotte, left East Haddam, Conn., and located at Middletown, Rutland County, Vermont. It is assumed that the children, listed in the Shepardson History, were born in one or the other of the above places. In 1805, approximately, Ancel, his wife and children, arrived in Fairfax, Franklin County, Vermont, and settled on a farm.
Four of the children, listed in the 1907 Shepardson History, namely: Daniel, Asa, Clarissa and Calista, some married and with families, later moved from Fairfax to Ohio and established homes in that state. In 1883, from his diary, Willie Sanford Shepardson, made a trip to Ohio and visited many of these families or their descendants.
Ancel was a successful farmer, a good businessman and the entire family was active in town and church affairs. With his son, Ancel, Jr., and others, a sawmill was built on Stone's Brook for the manufacture of lumber, a forge and blacksmith shop were added later, thus continuing in the footsteps of the first Daniel, tilling the soil and the blacksmith trade. The descendants of Ancel, Jr. further added to the establishment on Stone's Brook and the locality became known as Shepardson's Hollow.
While no trace remains today of the extensive operations carried on there, this small pleasant valley still retains the name.
Ancel, Sr., died in Fairfax, Franklin County, Vermont on February 9th, 1840, at the age of 82. His wife, Charlotte (Colgrove) died in Fairfax on February 23rd, 1850, at 88 years of age. Both are buried in Bailey Cemetery in West Fletcher, Franklin County, Vermont. This now abandoned cemetery is located on the farm owned, at the time of their deaths, by their son, JOEL.
From records in an old Bible, owned in 1973, by the family of Herbert Dennison Shepardson of Fairfax, Franklin County, Vermont, the following more complete information was obtained regarding the children of ANGEL and CHARLOTTE (COLGROVE) SHEPARDSON.
The first three couples migrated to Granville, Ohio. Those with the Shepardson name d. there. Calista and Uri Colgrove also migrated to Ohio -- Alexandria where Calista d. Aug. 13, 1861.
From the same Bible, the following:
On November 6, 1817, JOEL ALMERIN SHEPARDSON, born June 28, 1796, married HULDAH VALERIA GOODRICH, born June 25, 1795, at Westford, Chittenden County, State of Vermont, by the Rev. Simeon Parmalee.
THEN TO - Joel and Huldah - Nov. 11, 1818 - Son * Died, Jan. 4, 1819.
The above corrects an error in the 1907 History, which gives the name of "Daniel" instead of "David".
(Daniel, 1st; Daniel, 2nd; Nathaniel, 3rd; John, 4th; Ancel, 5th; Joel, 6th)
JOEL ALMERIN SHEPARDSON, son of Ancel, Sr. and Charlotte (Colgrove) Shepardson, was born June 28th, 1796, probably in Middletown, Rutland County, Vermont, although no search has been made of records to establish this. He came to Fairfax in 1805 with his parents, and other members of his family, at 9 years of age. It is assumed that he was educated in Middletown and Fairfax, Vermont, but no search has been made of school records, to discover the extent of his education.
On November 6th, 1817, JOEL ALMERIN was married at Westford, Chittenden County, Vermont, to HULDAH GOODRICH, born June 25, 1795, daughter of Levi and Mary Goodrich, by the Rev. Simeon Parmalee. To them were born the children listed above. They resided in Fairfax and worked on the family farm and other businesses for about twenty years. That he was a successful farmer and good businessman is shown by the fact that in 1838, for $1,000 cash, he purchased the 170 acre farm of Elias Hall in West Fletcher, Franklin County, Vermont, and moved there with his family.
Joel and his family, continuing their industrious ways, remodeled the buildings, increased the dairy herd and added to the farm holdings. On December 25, 1850, at Joel's sudden death, at age 54 years, of "a heart seizure", the Home Farm, consisted of 240 acres of farming land, sugar orchard and timber, as well as, a good producing herd of cattle. So, like the widow of Daniel, 1st; "Huldah", Joel's widow, who had the use of the property during her lifetime, "was considered well fixed for a woman of her day". She died July 19, 1867 at 72 years of age. Both Joel and Huldah are buried in the old cemetery (Bailey Cemetery), previously mentioned, on their farm in West Fletcher, Vermont. In 1851 and 1867, after the deaths of Joel and Huldah, his widow, the property was signed over to SAMUEL CARLETON, by the other heirs, with the following provisions: In 1851, "provided he cared for their mother, Huldah, during her lifetime"; In 1867, at Huldah's death, "provided he cared for Charlotte (sister) during her natural life".
Samuel Carleton Shepardson (12-20-1824) came to Fletcher in 1838 at 14 yrs. of age with his family. He m. Oct. 3, 1850 Emily Robinson b. April 28, 1823, dau. of Joseph and Junia (Montague) Robinson of Fletcher. He d. in Fletcher July 14, 1903. Emily d. Feb. 23, 1906. Both bur. Bing. Cem. 4 ch., all b. in Fletcher:
On Oct. 3, 1900 Samuel and his wife, Emily, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their farm home in W. Fletcher.
Willie Sanford Shepardson (3-11-1861) rented the store at Fletcher Center in 1897 from Joseph Robinson and purchased it in 1902. He was postmaster at the Center from 1898 until the post office was discontinued in 1911. He also held nearly every elective office in town including that of Town Clerk and Treasurer from 1914 until his retirement in 1936. In addition, he was Fletcher's Representative at the General Assembly in 1894, and in 1910 was elected Senator from Franklin Co. Without verification, we believe he is the only person from Fletcher to be so honored by the voters of Franklin Co.
Minnie, as Will's wife was affectionately known, was equally active in the town, as a teacher in the public schools and, later, as Supervisor of Fletcher's School Districts, as well as Ass't Postmaster and Ass't Town Clerk. Will and Minnie had 2 sons:
Will d. Dec. 5, 1937; Minnie d. March 25, 1938. Both bur. St. Patrick's Cem., Fairfield
Herbert Dennison Shepardson (3-7-1864) m. (1) Mattie Ballard Feb. 5, 1890 3 ch., b. in Fletcher: Earl, Ilma, Hazel m. (2) Maud Clark 2 daus: Thelma and Carrie m (3) Clarice Clark b. Oct. 30, 1902 in Westford, Vt., dau. of Leon and Martha Clark 5 ch.: Dennison W., Samuel C., Lyman H., Jeannette Lou, Jean Alice.