Rev. Thomas Shepard

Rev. Birth 5 Nov 1605 Towcester, , Northamptonshire, England [1] Gender Male Died 25 Aug 1649 Cambridge, Middlesex, MA, USA [1] Age 43 years

Notes

THOMAS SHEPARD OF CAMBRIDGE, MASS.

T1. (Rev.) THOMAS1 SHEPARD, born at Towcester, Northamptonshire, England, 5 Nov. 1605, died at Cambridge, Mass., 25 Aug. 1649;

• married in England, in 1632, (1) Margaret Touteville (i.e., Stouteville, earlier Estoute-ville), baptized at Humanby, Yorkshire, England, 3 Aug. 1606, died at Cambridge, Feb. 1635/6, daughter of Charles and Ann (Robertson) Stoute-ville;
• married about 1637, (2) Joanna Hooker, born about 1621, buried at Cambridge, Mass., 28 Apr. 1646, daughter of (Rev.) Thomas and Susan (Garbrand) Hooker;
• married on 8 Sept. 1647, (3) Margaret Borodell, born presumably in England. She married second, at Cambridge, 19 Nov. 1650, his successor, (Rev.) Jonathan Mitchell, baptized at South Ouram, Yorkshire, 19 Dec. 1624, died at Cambridge 9 July 1668, a graduate of Harvard College in 1647.

The Rev. Thomas Shepard was son of William Shepard of Towcester. The will of John Shepard of Towcester, dated 16 July 1643, mentions "my brother Thomas Shepard of Cambridge in New England" and refers to himself as eldest son of William Sheppard (deceased) and also mentions his mother-in-law (i.e., stepmother) Amy Sheppard. John Shepard makes ample provision for his children, including his eldest son, William, then in New England. This last William we find it difficult to identify with any of that name who appear in early New England records,* and it seems likely that he returned to England to enjoy the good estate which his father bequeathed to him there. [N.Y. Gen. and Biog. Record, 42: 94-96].

According to Thomas Shepard's statement in his "Memoir of His Own Life," included in Young's "Chronicles of the First Planters of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay," his first wife was related to Sir Richard Darley of Buttercrambe, Yorkshire. Her parentage was established through the ef-forts of the late Dr. Arthur Adams [New England Hist. and Gen. Register, 100: 73]. The will of "Charles Toutwell, of Handmanby, in the County of York, Gent.," dated 12 Feb. 1620, proved 19 Dec. 1622, names sons Charles and Henry, and daughters Mary and Margaret, and desires Sir Richard Barley to be Margaret's guardian. Her mother was Ann (Robertson) Stoute-ville, daughter of Bryan and Margaret (Fitzwilliam) Robertson, and grand-daughter of Richard Fitzwilliam of Sprotsborough, through whom descent from various baronial families and royalty can be traced.

The second wife of Thomas was daughter of the noted Rev. Thomas Hooker of Hartford, Conn., whose English ancestry will be found set forth in the Detroit Society for Genealogical Research Magazine, 5: 122 ff. The interesting family connections of her mother Susan Garbrand, alias Harkes, are presented in Ernest Flagg, Founding of New England (1927), pp. 318-24. The will of Thomas Hooker of Hartford, dated 7 July 1647, gave £10 to each of the two children of his daughter Joanna Sheperd deceased [Manwaring's Digest, 1: 17].

It seems likely that the third wife of Thomas Shepard was sister of Ann Borodell, whom Capt. George Denison of Stonington, Conn., brought as his wife from England, for the surname is otherwise unknown in early New England, and the Denisons conferred the name Margaret on a daughter.

Thomas Shepard matriculated at Emanuel College, Cambridge, England, in 1619, and received the degrees of B.A. (1623) and M.A. (1627). He preached at Earls Colne, co. Essex, and, having become a nonconformist, decided to emigrate to New England. He failed in that attempt in 1634, his ship being driven back by bad weather, but on 2 July 1635 he was listed, as John Sheppard, aged 36, with Margaret, 31, and Thomas, 3 months, to sail on the Defence; Samuel Shepherd, aged 22 (brother of Thomas; see T 2, below), was entered on the passenger list the following day as "servant" of Roger Harlakenden [John Camden Hotten, The Original Lists (1874), pp. 99, 100]. The ship arrived safely at Boston the following 3 Oct. Thomas Shepard was made a freeman of Massachusetts Bay, 3 Mar. 1635/6.

The Rev. Thomas Hooker was the first minister of Cambridge, Mass., when the town was settled. He left in 1636 with a majority of the congregation to found Hartford, Conn., and Thomas Shepard was installed as his successor. He was most highly regarded and Cotton Mather gives some account of him in Magnalia Christi Americana.

The will of Mr. Thomas Shepard, Pastor of the Church at Cambridge, made 25 Aug. 1649, proved 29 Nov. 1649, named his wife and four children: eldest son Thomas and sons Samuel, John, and Jeremiah. [Middlesex County Probate.] On 9 Oct. 1651, the executors of the estate of Thomas Shepard, with mention of what he bequeathed to his wife Margaret, now married to Jonathan Mitchell, conveyed to Mitchell the house where Shepard lived; and Mitchell gave them a receipt the same date, mentioning "my wife, mother of Jeremiah Shepard, son of Rev. Thomas." [Middlesex County Deeds.]

Family

Children by first wife

• : T 3 i. Thomas,2 b. in 1633, d. at Yarmouth, Eng., Dec. 1634
• . T 4 ii. Thomas, b. at London, Eng., 5 Apr. 1635, bp. Feb. 1636.

Children by second wife, born at Cambridge

• : T 5 iii. A son, d. in infancy, 1638.
• T 6 iv. Samuel, b. 18 Oct. 1641.
• T 7 v. John, b. 9 Mar. 1743/4, d. 14 July 1644.
• T 8 vi. John, b. 2 Apr. 1646.

Child by third wife, born at Cambridge:

• T 9 vii. Jeremiah, b. 11 Aug. 1648.

References: Public records; James Savage, Genealogical Dictionary of New England (1862), 4: 76; L.R. Paige, History of Cambridge (Supplement, M.I. Gozzaldi, 1930); New York Gen. and Biog. Record, 29: 184; and sources cited in the text.

Father: William Shepard, d. 1615, Banbury, , Oxfordshire, England Mother (Unknown) Bland, d.

Family / Spouse 1 Margaret Touteville, c. 3 Aug 1606, Humanby, , Yorkshire, England , d. Feb 1634/35, Cambridge, Middlesex, MA, USA (~ 28 years) Married 1632 , , , England [1]

Children   

* 1. Thomas Shepard b. 1633 d. Dec 1634, Yarmouth, , , England (1 years

• ) + 2. Thomas Shepard b. 5 Apr 1635, London, , , England d. 22 Dec 1677, Charlestown, Suffolk, MA, USA (42 years)

Family / Spouse 2 Joanna Hooker, b. Abt 1621, bur. 28 Apr 1646, Cambridge, Middlesex, MA, USA (~ 25 years) Married Abt 1637

[1] Children

• 1. (Unknown) Shepard
• 2. Rev. Samuel Shepard b. 18 Oct 1641, Cambridge, Middlesex, MA, USA d. 7 Apr 1668, Rowley, Essex, MA, USA (26 years)
• 3. John Shepard b. 9 Mar 1643/44, Cambridge, Middlesex, MA, USA d. 14 Jul 1644 (0 years)
• 4. John Shepard b. 2 Apr 1646, Cambridge, Middlesex, MA, USA

Family / Spouse 3 Margaret Borodell, d. Yes, date unknown Married 8 Sep 1647 [1]

Children

• 1. Rev. Jeremiah Shepard b. 11 Aug 1648, Cambridge, Middlesex, MA, USA d. 3 Jun 1720, Lynn, Essex, MA, USA (71 years)

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Born in Towchester, Northamptionshire, 5 Nov 1604, son of William Shepard. Attended the Free School of Towchester from about 1614 to 1619. Admitted pensioner at Emmanuel College, Cambridge on 10 Feb 1619/20; B.A. 1623/4; M.A. 1627. Came from London to Massachusetts Bay in 1635 on the Defence (on 2 Jul 1635, "husbandman John [sic] Sheppard," aged 36, "Margaret Sheppard," aged 31, & "Tho[mas] Shappard," aged 3 mos.. were enrolled at London as passengers for New England on the Defence). Died 25 Aug 1649, in the 44th year of his age. (This was also the date of his nuncupative will. John Hull gives an earlier date, which must be incorrect. "24th, 6th [August] 1649. Mr. Thomas Shepard, pastor of Cambridge church, died, a zealous & pious preacher." Thomas Shepard was buried at Cambridge on 28 Aug 1649. Married (1) Buttercrambe, Yorkshire, 23 Jul 1632, Margaret Touteville. She died at Cambridge in spring 1636. Married (2) by 1638 Joanna Hooker, daughter of THOMAS HOOKER {1633, Cambridge}. She was buried at Cambridge on 28 Apr 1646. Married (3) 8 Sep 1647, Margaret Borodell. She married (2) at Cambridge on 19 Nov 1650, Jonathan Mitchell, son of MATTHEW MITCHELL {1635, Charlestown}. Thomas Shepard was brother of SAMUEL SHEPARD {1635, Cambridge}. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Shepard_(minister)