Tracy Hezekiah Shepard, Sr.

1. Tracy Hezekiah7 Shepard (Ralph6, Jonathan5, Johnathan4, Isaac3, Thomas2, Ralph "Puritan"1) (Source: (1) Compiled by Evert E. Tracy, M. D., Tracy Genealogy, Ancestors and Descendants of Lieutenant Thomas Tracy of Norwich, Conn., 1660, (Joel Junsell's Sons, Publishers, Albany, N. Y. 1898), 317., (2) Edited by H. Perry Smith, History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County, (D. Mason & Co. Publishers 1884 Syracuse, N. Y.), 517., (3) Gerald Faulkner and Editied by Donald Lines Jacobus, The Shepard Families of New England Vol 1 Ralph Shepard of Dedham, (The New Haven Colony Historical Society, New Haven, Connecticutt 1971).) was born 29 April 1816 in Smith's Mill, Erie County, New York, and died Bet. July 1862 - July 1865 in Pecatonica, Lysander Township, Winnebago Cty, Illinois. He married Louisa P. Wells 25 June 1848 in Winnebago County, Illinois, daughter of Chester Wells and Eliza Roberts. She was born 16 October 1825 in Massena Twp., St. Lawrence County, New York, and died 17 October 1899 in Burnham, Howell County, Missouri.

Notes for Tracy Hezekiah Shepard: The birthplace of Tracy Hezekiah Shepard is listed in different reference books to be in different places. Most list it as Hamburg, Erie County, New York, some list it as Pawlet, Rutland County, Vermont. The Town of Pawlet does not have any birth record for Tracy Hezekiah Shepard. Tracy's older sibings are listed as being born in Vermont, his younger siblings were born in New York. His father, Ralph Shepard, bought two parcels of land in Erie County, New York on 24 April 1816 prior to the birth of Tracy on 29 April 1816. Hamburg did not exist in 1816, it was called Smith's Mill until at least 1820. One reference says they moved there at the time the land was purchased. Erie County, New York does not have any confirming birth records. In 1817 Ralph Shepard was a hotel keeper. If he were a hotel keeper in 1816, it is very feasible Tracy H. could have been born only a few days after land was purchased, they could have lived in the hotel as a temporary residence.

There is a source that states Ralph bought land in New York before buying land in Erie County. That would indicate a progressive relocation from Vermont to Erie County, New York.

Some reference books list Louise Chester as his wife, there are no marriage records in either New York or Illinois to support that statement. The books that list Louisa, or Louise, Chester as his wife also list three of their children which have the same names as the children of Louisa Wells and Tracy. Indications in his brother's will is that the family that stayed in New York lost contact with Tracy and Ralph who moved to Illinois; therefore, it may be assumed that they relayed information incorrectly and his wife was actually Louisa Wells the daughter of Chester Wells. Further proof of this union being his only one is that Tracy's second child was named Chester Wells Shepard.

One story verbally passed down in the family is that Tracy died on the day his youngest child was born. That could have been Laura or a younger child that did not survive. His name is not listed in the 1865 Illinois State Census, only Louisa and six unnamed children. Their son Tracy E. was born in November 1853 died 23 August 1854. Some records of those buried in 12 Mile Grove Cemetery in Seward, Winnebago County, Illinois were destroyed; among those were the years spanning the death of Tracy H. and Ralph. The gravestone for Tracy E. Shepard is in that cemetery along side some unmarked graves. It is believe that both Tracy Hezekiah and his son Ralph are buried there.

More About Tracy Hezekiah Shepard: Burial: Bet. July 1862 - July 1865, Possibly in 12 Mile Grove Cemetery, Seward, Winnebago County, Illinois Occupation: Farmer