FATHER

Solomon Shepherd 

WIFE

Jane Wilson

CHILDREN

1. John Shepherd
    b. Abt. April 1734
    m. Bef. 1761 to Mary Mickle

2. Sarah Shepherd
    b. Abt. 1735
    m. 20 Dec 1758 to William Braselton
    d. Aug 1826 Jefferson, TN

3. Solomon Shepherd
    b. Abt. 1738
    m. 19 Oct 1763 to Margaret Blackburn
    d. Aft. 1816 probably Fayette Co., PA

4. Elizabeth Shepherd
    b. Abt. 1741
    m. 15 Jan 1768 to Stephanus Haworth
    d. d. 4 Feb 1807 Guilford, NC

Solomon Shepherd
by Susan Brooke
Nov 2020

Solomon Shepherd, an Irish Quaker, came to America in 1729 as an apprentice to a Jacob Marshall.  He had requested a certificate of release from the Grange Meeting in Chariment, Ireland in July 1729 and arrived at the New Garden Meeting in Chester, PA (near Philadelphia) shortly thereafter.(1) Jacob Marshall died shortly after their arrival in 1729 and his widow Ann wrote a will on 30 9th mo 1729 which was probated 20 Feb 1729/30. The records from her estate indicate that "a servant man was sold to Francis Hobson for £8." (2) This may have been Solomon Shepherd.
From these records we learn that Solomon Shepherd was a single man, probably an indentured servant,  and that he was "Solomon Shepard ye younger," indicating his father's name may have been Solomon.  (1)  His younger brother, William Shepherd, arrived in 1739. (3) From his records we know that his father was Solomon Shepherd.
Solomon married Jane Wilson in 1733 at the New Garden Meeting.  They appeared at the women's monthly meeting on March 29th signifying their intentions and were married on the 15th of November. (4) Their son John was born about 5 months later and the Society of Friends called them into a meeting.  A record of the April 29, 1734 meeting was accepted at a June meeting. Then the women's meeting met and they too "lay ye Evil of her doings before her of being with child before she was married." One of the women assigned to speak to Jane had been a witness at their marriage. They had a month to come forward and repent. (5)
They must have repented for they moved to Menallen Township, now Adams County,  by 1747 and in 1748 and Solomon became a recommended minister of Warrington Monthly Meeting. (6)
Solomon and Jane Shepherd had at least four children. When Solomon Shepherd wrote his will in July 1748 he named his wife Jane and children: John, Sarah, Solomon and Elizabeth.  He named his brother William Shepherd and wife Jane as executors. The will was probated 29 Mar 1749 indicating he had a fair amount of land. (7) His oldest son, John was just under 15 and his youngest child, Elizabeth about 8.

Sources

(1)
Immigration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania 1682-1730 with their early history in Ireland. Swarthmore, [PA]: Myers, 1902, pp. 277-390.
Recorded at Grange Meeting 22 5th month 1729 Chariment, Ireland ; Stated that Soloman Shepherd carried a certificate dated 8 first month 1729 to America and deposited  30 11th month 1730/31 at New Garden Meeting.

"Att a mens meeting held (at Grange) ye 22 aforesaid (5 Mo. 1729) Solomon Shepard ye younger having transported himself to America as an Aprentice with Jacob Marshill * Desired of us a Certificate," etc.  He settled for a time in New Garden and was married, 9 Mo. 15, 1733, at New Garden Meeting, to Jane Wilson, of New Garden.

Newgarden Monthly Meetings (Ancestry.com)
"Att Newgarden monthly meeting held at Newgarden ye 30th day of ye 11th mo 1730/1
"Solomon Shepherd produced to this meeting a Certificate from ye mens meeting at ye Grange in ye North of Ireland bearing Date of ye 1st of ye 8th month 1729 which signifies yt he is Clear from Marriage Engagements there so this meeting receives him under care."

(2) From Prairie to Palestine pg. 328
The author surmises that "It is probable that John and Christopher Griffith obtained their certificates before leaving Ireland and that they left for America shortly afterward, accompanied by Jacob and Ann Marshall and their two sons and Solomon Shepherd.  One item in the inventory of Ann's estate refers to a servant man, sold to Francis Hobson for 8. This fits in with the information gained from the Irish record that Jacob brought an apprentice with him."

(3) William Sheppard, unmarried, from Grange, near Charlemont, Ireland, dated 20 4th Mo 1739, received 18 8th Mo 1739. He is a birthright member.  His parents removed "from this neighborhood (when he ye sd William was but young) to a small meeting some miles Distant from us, Yet under our Care, being in ye Compas our mens meeting." Among signers were Benjamin and John shepherd, Jacob, Joseph, Benjamin Marshill, and Lawrence and Benjamin Hobson.

William Shepherd, of Menallen Meeting, now Adams County, son of Solomon Shepherd, deceased, of Ireland, was married 31 3rd Mo 1749, at London Grove Meeting, to Richmunday Wood, of London Grove, Chester County.

(4) Newgarden Monthly Meetings (Ancestry.com) "Att a monthly meeting of Newgarden held at Newgarden ye 29th day of ye first month 1733. Solomon Shepard & Jane Wilson appeared at this meeting & signified their Intentions of taking each other in marriage it being ye first time therefore this meeting appoints Mary Sharp & Martha Hobson to Enquire into her Conversation & Clearness on ye account of marriage & make report to our next meeting."

Marriage of Solomon Shepherd and Jane Wilson

Newgarden Monthly Meetings (Ancestry.com) "Att a monthly meeting of Newgarden held at Newgarden ye 215th day of ye 9th month 1733. "Solomon Sheperd" signed his name and his wife Jane made her mark. Witness are listed.  "Jesper Willson" was a witness                               "Mary Sharp" was a witness, later assigned to "speak" to Jane.

(5)
At Newgarden monthly meeting held at Londongrove ye 29th of ye 4th month 1734
Meeting bearing Date of 29th of ye 2nd month 1734: which was read & accepted
"Newgarden preparative meeting acquainted this meeting that Solomon Shepards wife Jane had a child sooner then is usual after marriage & he being here acknowledges yt they had Carnal knowledge of Each other before accomplishment of their marriage so this meeting refers it untill ye next monthly meeting  & Desires him & his wife to be at ye next monthly meeting in order to condemn their sd Actions if they be truly sorry for it." 

"Att a monthly meeting of Newgarden held at Newgarden ye 27th of ye 5th month 1734
This meeting appoints Mary Sharp & Ann Jackson to Speake to Jane Shepard & lay ye Evil of her doings before her of being with child before she was married & make report to our next meeting;"

(6) Immigration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania 1682-1730 with their early history in Ireland
"They moved to Menallen Township, now Adams County, and in 1748, Solomon became a recommended minister of Warrington Monthly Meeting."

History of York County, Pennsylvania
pg. 116    William Smith marriage to Jane Underwood, at Warrington meeting 9 8th month 1747  Solomon Shepherd witness 

(7) Will of Solomon Shepherd.  Lancaster PA Will BK 1 pg. 167 Wills his body to be decently buried by his Loving wife Jane and Loving brother William Shephard. They to be executors. To Loving Wife Jane "all my Personal Estate." during her life. I order unto my son John Shephard the full half of my Real Estate, he paying 10 pounds to his sister Sarah Shephard two years after his enjoying sd. land. To my son Solomon Shephard the other half of my real estate with the houses and other improvements, he paying ten pounds to his sister Sarah and twenty pounds to his sister Elizabeth Shephard two years after his enjoying sd. lands. The land will by me to be in the Possession of my Loving wife Jane until my son John arrives at the twenty first year of his age. Etc.

Will of Solomon Shepherd Lancaster PA Will BK 1 pg. 167