Col. David Shepherd

LTC David Shepherd BIRTH 17 Jan 1734 Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA DEATH 2 Feb 1795 (aged 61) Ohio County, West Virginia, USA BURIAL Stone Church Cemetery Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14858483/david-shepherd

A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA with the rank of COLONEL. DAR Ancestor # A102930

Colonel David Shepherd was the commander of Fort Henry, Wheeling, in 1777, and was the first County Lieutenant of Ohio Co. He gave the ground for the Stone Church and Cemetery, Elm Grove, WV, where he and members of his family are buried. There are numerous references to Colonel Shepherd in area history books. Some of the most interesting are in a fictional account of Lydia Boggs and Moses Shepherd entitled "Time Steals Softly" by Virginia Jones Harper, Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc., Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Also, in the Wheeling, Ohio County, Library, you can find "David Shepherd, His Ancestors and Descendants" by Dorothy Rine Brown, assembled by Audra Rickey Wayne, Wheeling, West Virginia 1985.

David voted for George Washington and was one of the "gentlemen justices" of Frederick County, Virginia.

David inherited the large plantation "Pell Mell" from his father, Thomas, who received it from his wife, Elizabeth VanMeter, who received it from her father, John, "The Indian Trader" VanMeter. David sold "Pell Mell" on June 4, 1769, and made plans for a journey to Ohio County, Virginia, where he bought land from Silas Zane.

From "Time Steals Softly" p. 3: "David Shepherd had chosen land six miles east of Wheeling at the junction of two branches of Wheeling Creek, which wound among the hills from there to empty into the river at Wheeling, and his property was known as Shepherd Forks or just 'the Forks.' "

p. 5:"It was in September of that miscreant 'year of the three sevens' (1777) that the British and Indians attacked Fort Henry in Wheeling. David Shepherd had to abandon his own fort and farm to take command of Fort Henry. . . . Though the fort survived the siege, the settlement around it was burned to the ground, at at Shepherd Fords the enemy destroyed all of David's buildings but the gristmill. Among the casualties were David's elder son, who was tomahawked and clubbed to death, and a son-in-law."

From the web site edsanders.com/hist000.htm Fort Henry:

"The siege of Fort Henry, at the mouth of Wheeling creek, in the year 1777, is one of the most memorable events in Indian warfare - remarkable for the indomitable bravery displayed by the garrison in general, and for some thrilling attendant incidents. The fort stood immediately on the left bank of the Ohio river, about a quarter of a mile above Wheeling creek, and at much less distance from an eminence which rises abruptly from the bottom land. The space inclosed was about three quarters of an acre. In shape the fort was a parallelogram, having a block-house at each corner with lines of pickets eight feet high between. Within the enclosures was a store-house, barrack-rooms, garrison-well, and a number of cabins for the use of families. The principal entrance was a gateway on the eastern side of the fort. Much of the adjacent land was cleared and cultivated, and near the base of the hill stood some twenty-five or thirty cabins, which formed the rude beginning of the present city of Wheeling. The fort is said to have been planned by General George Rogers Clarke; and was constructed by Ebenezer Zane and John Caldwell. When first erected, it was called Fort Fincastle but the name was afterwards changed in compliment to Patrick Henry the renowned orator and patriotic governor of Virginia.

At the time of the commencement of the siege, the garrison of Fort Henry numbered only forty-two men, some of whom were enfeebled by age while others were mere boys. All, however, were excellent marksmen, and most of them, skilled in border warfare. Colonel David Shepherd, as a brave and resolute officer in whom the borderers had full confidence. The store-house was well-supplied with small arms, particularly muskets, but sadly deficient in ammunition.

In the early part of September, 1777, it was ascertained that a large Indian army was concentrating on the Sandusky river, under the bold, active, and skillful renegade, Simon Girty. Colonel Shepherd had many trusty and efficient scouts on the watch; but Girty deceived them all and actually brought his whole force of between four and five hundred Indians before Fort Henry before his real object was discovered.

On the 26th, an alarm being given all the inhabitants in the vicinity repaired to the fort for safety. At break of day, on the 27th, Colonel Shepherd, wishing to dispatch an express to the nearest settlements for aid, sent a white man and a negro to bring in some horses. While these men were passing through the cornfield south of the fort, they encountered a party of six Indians, one of whom raised his gun and brought the white men to the ground. The negro fled and reached the fort without receiving any injury. As soon as he related his story, Colonel Shepherd dispatched Captain Mason, with fourteen men, to dislodge the Indians from the cornfield. Mason marched almost to the creek without finding any Indians, and was about to return, when he was furiously assailed in front, flank, and rear by the whole of Girty's army. Of course, the little band was thrown into confusion, but the brave captain rallied his men, and taking the lead, hewed a passage through the savage host. In the struggle, more than half of the party were slain, and the gallant Mason severely wounded. An Indian fired at the captain at the distance of five paces and wounded, but did not disable him. Turning about, he hurled his gun, felled the savage to the earth, and then succeeded in hiding himself in a pile of fallen timbers, where he was compelled to remain to the end of the siege. Only two of his men survived the fight, and they owed their safety to the heaps of logs and brush which abounded in the cornfield.

As soon as the perilous situation of Captain Mason became known at the fort, Captain Pyle was sent out with twelve men, to cover his retreat. The party fell into an ambuscade and two-thirds of the number were slain upon the spot. Captain Pyle found a place of concealment, where he was obliged to remain until the end of the siege. Sergent Ogle, though mortally wounded, managed to escape, with two soldiers into the woods.

The Indian army now advanced to the assault, with terrific yells. A few shots from the garrison, however, compelled them to halt. Girty had changed the order of attack. Parties of Indians were placed in such of the village-houses as commanded a view of the block-houses. A strong party occupied the yard of Ebenezer Zane, about fifty yards from the fort, using a paling fence as a cover, while the main force was posted under cover on the edge of a cornfield to act as occasion might require.

Girty then appeared at the window of a cabin, with a white flag in his hand, and demanded the surrender of the fort in the name of his Britannic majesty. At this time, the garrison numbered only twelve men and two boys. Yet the gallant Colonel Shepherd promptly replied to the summons, that the fort should never be surrendered to the renegade. Girty renewed his proposition, but before he could finish his harangue, a thoughtless youth fired at the speaker and brought the conference to an abrupt termination. Girty disappeared, and in about fifteen minutes, the Indians opened a heavy fire upon the fort, and continued it without much intermission for the space of six hours. The fire of the little garrison, however, was much more destructive than that of the assailants. About one o'clock, the Indians ceased firing and fell back against the base of the hill.

The Colonel resolved to take advantage of the intermission to send for a keg of powder, which was known to be in the house of Ebenezer Zane, about sixty yards from the fort. Several young men promptly volunteered for the dangerous service; but Shepherd could only spare one, and the young men could not determine who that should be. At this critical moment, a young lady, sister of Ebenezer Zane, came forward, and asked that she might be permitted to execute the service; and so earnestly did she argue for the proposition, that permission was reluctantly granted. The gate was opened, and the heroic girl passed out. The opening of the gate arrested the attention of several Indians who were straggling through the village, but they permitted Miss Zane to pass without molestation. When she reappeared with the powder in her arms, the Indians, suspecting the character of her burden, fired a volley at her, but she reached the fort in safety. Let the name of Elizabeth Zane be remembered among the heroic of her sex.

About half-past two o'clock, the savages again advanced and renewed their fire. An impetuous attack was made upon the south side of the fort, but the garrison poured over the assailants a destructive fire from the two lower block-houses. At the same time, a party of eighteen or twenty Indians, armed with rails and billets of wood, rushed out of Zane's yard and made an attempt to force open the gate of the fort. Five or six of the number were shot down, and then the attempt was abandoned. The Indians then opened fire upon the fort from all sides, except that next to the river, which afforded no shelter to besiegers. On the north and east the battle raged fiercely. As night came on the fire of the enemy slackened. Soon after dark, a party of savages advanced within sixty yards of the fort, bringing a hollow maple log which they had loaded to the muzzle and intended to use as a cannon. The match was applied and the wooden piece bursted, killing or wounding several of those who stood near it. The disappointed party soon dispersed.

Late in the evening, Francis Duke, son-in-law of Colonel Shepherd, arriving from the Forks of Wheeling, was shot down before he could reach the fort. About four o'clock next morning, Colonel Swearingen, with fourteen men, arrived from Cross Creek, and was fortunate enough to fight his way into the fort without losing a single man.

This reinforcement was cheering to the wearied garrison. More relief was at hand.

About daybreak, Major Samuel M'Culloch, with forty mounted men from Short Creek, arrived. The gate was thrown open, and the men, though closely beset by the enemy, entered the fort. But Major M'Culloch was not so fortunate. The Indians crowded round and separated him from the party. After several ineffectual attempts to force his way to the gate, he turned and galloped off in the direction of Wheeling Hill.

When he was hemmed in by the Indians before the fort, they might have taken his life without difficulty, but they had weighty reasons for desiring to take him alive. From the very commencement of the war, his reputation as an Indian hunter was as great as that of any white man on the north-western border. He had participated in so many reconnoiters that almost every warrior possessed a knowledge of his person. Among the Indians his name was a word of terror; they cherished against him feelings of the most frenzied hatred, and there was not a Mingo or Wyandotte chief before Fort Henry who would not have given the lives of twenty of his warriors to secure to himself the living body of Major M'Culloch. When, therefore, the man whom they had long marked out as the first object of their vengeance, appeared in their midst, they made almost superhuman efforts to acquire possession of his person. The fleetness of M'Colloch's well-trained steed was scarcely greater than that of his enemies, who, with flying strides, moved on in pursuit. At length the hunter reached the top of the hill, and, turning to the left, darted along the ridge with the intention of making the best of his way to Short Creek. A ride of a few hundred yards in that direction brought him suddenly in contact with a party of Indians who were returning to their camp from a marauding excursion to Mason's Bottom, on the eastern side of the hill. The party being too formidable in numbers to encounter single-handed, the major turned his horse about and rode over his own track, in the hope of discovering some other avenue to escape. A few paces only of his countermarch had been made, when he found himself confronted by his original pursuers, who had, by this time, gained the top of the ridge, and a third party was discovered pressing up the hill directly on his right. He was now completely hemmed in on three sides, and the fourth was almost a perpendicular precipice of one hundred and fifty feet descent, with wheeling creek at its base. The imminence of his danger allowed him but little time to reflect upon his situation. In an instant he decided upon his course. Supporting his rifle in his left hand and carefully adjusting his reins with the other, he urged his horse to the brink of the bluff, and then made the leap which decided his fate. In the next moment the noble steed, still bearing his intrepid rider in safety, was at the foot of the precipice. M'Colloch immediately dashed across the creek, and was soon beyond reach of the Indians.

After the escape of the major, the Indians concentrated at the foot of the hill, and soon after set fire to all the houses and fences outside the fort, and killed about three hundred cattle. They then raised the siege and retired. The whole loss sustained by the whites during this remarkable siege, was twenty-six men killed and four or five wounded. The loss of the enemy was from sixty to one hundred men. As they removed their dead, exact information on the subject could not be obtained.

The gallant Colonel Shepherd deserved the thanks of the frontier settlers for his conduct on this occasion, and Governor Henry appointed him county lieutenant as a token of his esteem. A number of females, who were in the fort, undismayed by the dreadful strife, employed themselves in running bullets and performing various services; and thus excited much enthusiasm among the men. Perhaps a more heroic band was never gathered together in garrison than that which defended Fort Henry, and it would be unjust to mention any one as particularly distinguished. We have named the commander only because of his position."

From "Time Steals Softly" p. 86:

"From the outset David suffered with agonizing pain in his chest and arms, and his breathing was labored; he fought death until he could battle nor more. The cortege for Colonel David Shepherd, Lieutenant of Ohio County, included Virginians and Pennsylvanians, and condolences came for many weeks from prominent statesmen and military dignitaries in the East. There was a minister at that time at Stone Meeting house, and he led the service, after which David was buried in the church cemetery atop the hill.

Chilled by bleak weather on the day of the funeral, Rachel Shepherd contracted a chest infection, then called 'hasty consumption.' The end came quietly within a month of David's death.

Around the two graves and that of his brother, Moses built a rail to designate the Shepherd lot.

And that year, 1795, in which Moses' parents died and the Indian war ended, . . . "

From descendant Thayer M. McIntire's Application for Membership in the Sons of the American Revolution:

"In open court at Wheeling, West Virginia, he took oath as a Colonel. His valuable letters and reports preserved in the Archives of Wisconsin gave the history of the Warfare of the Wilderness.

Member of the executive committee in 1775, at Fort Pitt, (Augusta County Ex. Committee of Safety)

Sept. 4, 1776, Appointed by Gov., Patrick Henry, as County Lieutenant of Ohio County.

March 4, 1777 Commissioned Commander in Chief of Ohio County

June 2, 1777 Took oath as Colonel in open Military Court.

August 1777, Given command of Fort at Wheeling, West Virginia, by order of Gen. Hand.

Aug. 31, 1777 In command of Military Forces at Wheeling, 23 hours continuous fire of Indians, 15 men killed, one Capt and four men wounded. Col. Shepherd's son, William, and his son-in-law, Francis Duke, both killed in this engagement.

Sept 16-23, Attended peace conference with Delaware Indians at Fort Pitt.

April 10-28, 1881 In commandof Expedition in Coshocton Campaign in service of United States Government."

The following is a chronological arrangement of some of the chief event of David Shepherd's life with proofs. Copied from the West Virginia Historical Magazine Vol. 3, page 70-78. Jan. 1903.

David Shepherd was born in the stone house called "The Fort" in Shepherdstown. 1734 January -- Draper's notes. Wis. His. Soc. Vol 2, p. 37.

1756 Married Rachel Teague. Draper's notes.

1758 William, eldest son was born. Draper's notes.

1758 Elector of Frederick County, Virginia, voted for General Washington for Burgess. See letters to Washington.

1761 June 25 - Paid his land tax to Th. Hatch.

1763 Sept. 11 -- Moses, his youngest son was born.

1763 April 3 - Paid county and parish "levy" to Wm. Helms.

1767 May Court of Frederick County. He received fifty pounds of tobacco for services as a witness. Shepherd Mss.

1767 Paid to Samuel Oldham five pounds for his (D. Shepherd's) dues for the year. Original receipt.

1769 Paid to Samuel Oldham 179 pounds for levy due for the year. Shepherd's Mss.

1770 Paid fifteen pounds for levy taxes to Samuel Oldham.

1770 David Shepherd left Shepherdstown with his family and settled near Wheeling at the Forks of Big and Little Wheeling Creed. Here he built Shepherds Fort and block hous. Shepherd's Mss.

"Historic Shepherdstown, by: Mrs. Dandridge, given about 1752 as the marriage date. Sara was born in 1755 and Elizabeth was the eldest daughter."

1772 June 16 - Paid quit rent on land for years 1768-69-70-71 to Robert Stevents. Shepherd Mss.

1773 David McCintire, son of Major William McIntire and Elizabeth Shepherd, grandson of Col. Shepherd was born near Wheeling. Preston Papers.

1774 March 25 - David Shepherd received a warrant from Lord Dunmore for 1063 acres of land under the King of Great Britain's proclamation of 1763, lying in the forks of Wheeling in the county of Augusta. This warrant was signed by Gov. Benjamin Harrison, March 18th, 1784. Land Records.

1775 March 20 - May 16th. At Fort Pitt as a member of August County Executive Committee of Safety.

1776 March 23. Captain Thomas Shepherd made his will which was probated August 20th in Martinsburg. See records in Martinsburg.

1776 Sept 4. David shepherd was appointed County Lieutenant of Ohio County, by Gov. Patrick Henry. This was a military colony formed out of West Augusta by an Act of Legislature. All of the county officers were military officers. Court records.

1776 Charles Simmes, Secretary of Virginia, directed Col. Shepherd to raise companies of militia under instructions of the Convention of 1776 and to administer the oath. Court records.

1777 January 6th. Took the oath as a justice of the county court of Black's Cabin.

1777 January 26th and March 3rd. Courts were held. David Shepherd "Gentleman' prsent and all the proceedings were signed by him. Court Records.

1777 June 2nd. Took the oath as Colonel in open Military Court.

1777 July 6th. - was appointed County Lieutenant of Ohio County, Court Records.

1777 August -- General Hand ordered Colonel Shepherd to leave Fort Shepherd and take command at Wheeling as the Indians were expected. Fort Shepherd was destroyed by the Indians. August 22-Colonel Shepherd wrote General Hand- "In obedience to your orders I have called in all the men to this place then removed my family likewise, but there seems great confusion in the county. We- are repairing the fort as fast as possible and shall. soon have it, Indian Proof, except they scale the Stockades."

1777 August 31 -- Sept lst.-For twenty-three hours under command of Colonel Shepherd, thirty-five men assisted by their brave wives and. daughters (who loaded guns and molded ballets resisted the attack of the Indians. Col. Shepherd's own report is as follows - "Lieutenant and fourteen privates killed. 1 Captain and four privates wounded. By the best judges here who have seen the plans laid by the Indians and their breast works and blinds in the late action, it is thought their number must not have been less than between two and three hundred. The destruction of cattle is not yet ascertainable. A number of the distressed families have moved off, yet a number remain for want of horses."

1777 Colonel Shepherd's son William and son-in-law Francis Duke were killed in their siege.

1777 Sept. 15th-- Colonel Shepherd asks General Hand to relieve the Militia who worn out, by a company of regulars. Major Chew was sent in response to this request. Shepherd Mss.

1777. Oct. 3d. -- Col. Shepherd writes to General Hand- "Your timely relief by Major Chew was very acceptable as we could not bury the dead before he came." Major Chew wrote to General Hand (same date) "Since my arrival Col. Shepherd and myself marched and buried these unfortunate men , in the late action, a moving sight, cruelly butchered even after death."

1777 Was the far famed "bloody year". It was also called the year of the three sevens. It was the most terrible year in the annals of the West." De Haas. 'Through all Colonel Shepherd was the guiding and protecting spirit, although suffering great losses of life in his family and his property, through the destruction of Fort Shepherd Sept. 27th. which was burned by the Indians . He removed his large family to Redstone. De Haas.

The greatest loss was the death of his son and his son-in-law Francis Duke. His son William was only in his twentieth year, yet left a widow Rebecca McColloch, sister of Hugh McColloch. His child was a daughter named Elizabeth. "She is mentioned in her grandfather's will.

1777 Sept 1 -- Colonel Shepherd's son-in-law, Francis Duke, who was killed at the siege of Fort Henry, was. the second son of John Duke, an early settler of Berkley County, Virginia.

Francis Duke was born near Ballymoney, Ireland, Feb. 11, 1751 and married Sarah, daughter of Col. Shepherd about 1773. Francis Duke and his wife located at Beach Bottom twelve miles below Wheeling during the Indian troubles, Col. Shepherd as County Lieutenant, had caused the erection of blockhouses in the vicinity for the safety of the Settlers. One of these was at Beech Bottom where Francis Duke was Commissary and in charge of the Fort.

Learning of the attack upon Fort Henry be hurried from Beech Bottom to assist in the defense of Fort Henry. As he dashed toward the Fort coming suddenly upon the Indians, he was shot down before he could reach the gate. He was so near that the Indians did not venture for his scalp until after dark, when he was dragged into one the cabins and scalped and his body stripped. His widow, Sarah, and two sons, John and Francis, survived him. His widow afterwards married Levi B. Springer. See Draper's notes. Withers and De Haas.

There is more after this, but it is not transcribed yet.

http://boards.ancestry.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=921&p=surnames.she...

In 1795 Joseph FERREL acquired 120 acres from David SHEPHERD in Ohio County, Virginia. Bk.3,p.107. In this same year David SHEPHERD deeded land (which was adjacent to Joseph FERRELL) to William WARNOCK, Jr.

A deed from David SHEPERD to William WARNOCK (Jr.) is recorded in Ohio County, (W)Va. in 1795. This deed recites that the land is adjacent to land of Joseph FERRELL. In 1804, William and Maryann (JOLLY) WARNOCK conveyed this land to Daniel TERREL, but the deed says it corners to Joseph FERREL (From Find A Grave contributor William DeCoursey) --------------------------------------------------