Capt. Thomas C. Shepherd, Sr.

Founder of Shepherdstown, WV.

Capt Thomas C. Shepherd Sr. BIRTH 1705 Prince George's County, Maryland, USA DEATH 1776 (aged 70–71) Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA BURIAL Shepherd Burial Ground Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, West Virginia

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6827652/thomas-c.-shepherd

EARLY AMERICAN SETTLER & PATRIOT:
There are those who will tell you that Capt. Thomas C. Shepherd Sr. was descended from William Shepherd and Sarah Cochran. Others claim he is descended from one of the three brothers who first arrived in Boston. He was also a Patriot, having served in the American Revolution.

Shepherdstown is a town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. Shepherdstown claims to be the oldest town in the state. In 1734, Thomas Shepherd was granted 222 acres (0.9 km2), on the south side of the Potomac river. From that tract, he selected 50 acres (200,000 m2) and laid out a town. He named his town Mecklenburg and petitioned the Virginia Assembly for a charter. It was officially chartered in 1762 by the Virginia General Assembly. Thomas Shepherd was the sole trustee. He owned the town and had the responsibility to conduct its government. In 1798 it was renamed Shepherds Town, which was shortened to Shepherdstown after the Civil War. The town's population was 1208 as of 2002. The town is also home to Shepherd University.

Shepherdstown is a town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. Shepherdstown claims to be the oldest town in the state. In 1734, Thomas Shepherd was granted 222 acres (0.9 km2), on the south side of the Potomac river. From that tract, he selected 50 acres (200,000 m2) and laid out a town. He named his town Mecklenburg and petitioned the Virginia Assembly for a charter. It was officially chartered in 1762 by the Virginia General Assembly. Thomas Shepherd was the sole trustee. He owned the town and had the responsibility to conduct its government. In 1798 it was renamed Shepherds Town, which was shortened to Shepherdstown after the Civil War. The town's population was 1208 as of 2002. The town is also home to Shepherd University.

FOUNDER OF SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV (Orig. VA): Colonial settlers began their migration into the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley in the early 18th century. Many crossed the Potomac River at Pack Horse Ford, about one mile (2 km) down river from the site of Shepherdstown. The Colony of Virginia began issuing Valley land grants in the 1730s. In 1734, Thomas Shepherd was granted 222 acres (898,000 m²) on the south side of the Potomac (then called the Potowmack), along the Falling Spring Branch (now known as the Town Run). From that tract he selected 50 acres (202,000 m²) and laid out a town. Naming his town Mecklenburg, he petitioned the Virginia General Assembly for a charter, which was granted in 1762. Thomas Shepherd was the sole trustee, owning the town and being responsible for its government. When Thomas Shepherd died in 1776, he willed the town to his youngest son, Abraham, who was serving in Captain Hugh Stephenson's company. The new trustee was absent; the town had no government. It has been recorded that the citizens "just took care of each other." The residents decided in 1794, it was time to govern themselves. A petition to the Virginia Assembly resulted in the granting of a second charter, which allowed for the election of trustees and, in 1798, the name of the town was changed to Shepherd's Town. The year 1801 brought another change in county seats. Jefferson was partitioned from Berkeley and Shepherd's Town became part of that county. After the Civil War (1867), the town's name was officially contracted to Shepherdstown.

Among other accomplishments, Thomas built the first grist mill in Shepherdstown, in 1738.

HUSBAND & PATRIOT FATHER: Cpt. Thomas C. Shepherd Sr. married Elizabeth (Van Metre) Shepherd and they had ten children, all five sons Patriots in the Revolutionary War. It is thought that Thomas and Elizabeth were the only parents to have had five sons fight in the American Revolution. The children and a few grandchildren are as follows: 1. David Shepherd, b.January 1, 1733/34, Mecklenburg, Berkeley County, VA, d.February 2, 1795, Wheeling, Ohio County, VA, m. about 1755 to Rachel (Teague) Shepherd, father of William (1753-1777), Elizabeth (1755-1792), Ruth (1757/67-1832/46), Sarah (1759-1832), and Moses (1763-1832) 2. Sarah (Shepherd) Thornburgh, b.1736, Frederick County, VA, d. about 1780, Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, VA, m. about 1751 to Thomas Thornburg, mother of Thomas and Hezekiah Thornburgh 3. Elizabeth (Shepherd) Brown, b.October 3, 1738, Mecklenburg, Frederick County, VA, d.1788, Shepherdstown, VA, m.May 3, 1762 to William Brown 4. William Shepherd, b.1740, Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, VA, d.1824, m.1759/73 to Mary (Clarke) Shepherd, father of Thomas, William, and Sarah Shepherd 5. Thomas Shepherd II, b.1743, Frederick County, VA, d.October 16, 1792, Berkeley County, VA, m.1773 to Susanna (Hulse) Shepherd 6. John Shepherd, b.1749, Mecklenburg, VA, d.1812, m. Martha (Nelson) Shepherd 7. Martha Matilda (Shepherd) McNabb, b.1752, Mecklenburg, VA, d.1825, St. Clairsville, Belmont County, OH, m.October, 1771 to George McNabb (b.1746, Chester County, PA, d.1818), mother of Elizabeth (b.July 24,1772, Mecklenburg, VA, d.November 15, 1857, Leesville, Caroll County, OH, m.October 28, 1794, Ohio County, WV, to Isaac Holmes, [b.1764, d.1851], mother of Mary [1801-1865], Susannah [1806- ], and George [1807- ]), Mary(1779- ), John (1780- ), Sarah (1783-1862), Susannah (1789- ), George (1792- ) 8. Mary (Shepherd) Feay Buchanan, b.1752, Mecklenburg, VA, d.1825, m. about 1767 to 1st John Feay and 2nd Samuel Buchanan 9. Abraham Shepherd, b.November 10, 1754, Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, VA, d.September 7, 1822, Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, VA, m.December 27, 1780 to Eleanor Strode 10. Susanna (Shepherd) Eoff, b.September 1, 1758, Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, VA, d.April 13, 1835, Wheeling, Ohio County, VA, m.April 15, 1777 to John Eoff

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https://www.bavarianinnwv.com/shepherdstown.php

In 1734, Thomas Shepherd was granted 222 acres on the south side of the "Potowmack" river, along the Falling Spring Branch (now known as the Town Run). From that tract he selected fifty acres and laid out a town. In 1762, the Virginia Assembly chartered the town of Mecklenburg. Thomas Shepherd was the sole trustee: he owned the town and was responsible for its government.

A second charter, which allowed for self-government, was granted in 1794. In 1798, the corporate limits were extended and the name was changed to Shepherd's Town. After the Civil War, the town's name was officially contracted to Shepherdstown.