By Jared L. Olar
December 2018
The surname of "Sheppard" is a form of the word "shepherd," a very common occupation that gave rise to numerous unrelated Sheppard and Shepherd families. Through the Turney family we have a probable descent from a Sheppard family who lived in the hamlet of Littlecott (also called Littlecote or Lidcott) in Stewkley, Buckinghamshire, England. The Turney connection to the Sheppards of Littlecott is mentioned in the research of Helen Turney Sharps which was presented in "The Ancestry of Benjamin Turney of Concord, Mass., and Fairfield, Conn.," published in The American Genealogist, Oct. 1936, page 131. Our ancestor John Turney (c. 1500-1540) of Hollingdon in Buckinghamshire was the second husband of Alice Gurney, widow of Thomas Gurney of Broughton Abbots. Sharps says Alice was probably a Sheppard of Littlecott. Below is a conjectural lineage that traces the probable ancestry of John Turney's wife Alice.
1. WILLIAM SHEPPARD of Littlecott in Stewkely, Buckinghamshire, England. The will of William Hoode of Crendon in 1489 refers to William Sheppard the son of William Sheppard of Littlecote, aged under 22 at that time. Thus, this William had a same-named son about 1465.
2. WILLIAM SHEPPARD, born circa 1465.
2. WILLIAM SHEPPARD "the Elder," of Littlecott in Stewkely, Buckinghamshire, England, born perhaps circa 1465. Of this William Sheppard and his family, the following information and speculation was offered by a genealogist in a comment dated 5 Dec. 2015:
"William Sheppard of Littlecote d 1546 had 3 sons -- William Sheppard of Steeple Barton, Thomas Sheppard of Hockliffe, and John Sheppard (who had 3 sons, but who I've not been able to trace further). Littlecote passed in due course to the William Sheppard of Littlecote who died in 1597, and then to the latter's son Baldwin. I believe this William was the son of a brother of William d 1546, probably called Thomas. Furthermore Baldwin stated in one deed that his father was William Sheppard, his grandfather was Thomas Sheppard, and his great-grandfather was William Sheppard. This would mean that the father of William d 1546 was another William Sheppard. This ties with the will of William Hoode of Crendon in 1489 which refers to William Sheppard the son of William Sheppard of Littlecote, aged under 22 at that time."
"Thomas Sheppard of Hockliffe was the father of Thomas Sheppard of Maulden died 1607, and the latter's son, also Thomas Sheppard of Maulden, bought Littlecote (or rather, the part known as Chalfont manor) from Baldwin Sheppard."
"William Sheppard of Steeple Barton left 2 young sons, John Sheppard who was in chambers at Grays Inn but also lived in North Aston, and William Sheppard who founded the branch at Great Rollright."
Chronological, John Turney of Hollingdon's wife Alice would fit as a daughter of William Sheppard the Elder:
William thus would have at least two sons and a daughter:
-- WILLIAM SHEPPARD, "the Younger," born circa 1480, married Alice (NN), had three sons.
3. ALICE SHEPPARD, born circa 1490.
-- THOMAS SHEPPARD, had at least one son.
3. ALICE [SHEPPARD?], probably a Shepperd of Littlecott, and if so probably a daughter of William Sheppard the Elder of Littlecote (in Stewkley), Buckinghamshire. Alice, born perhaps circa 1490, died probably early in 1552 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, married first circa 1510-13 to THOMAS GURNEY of Broughton Abbots in Bierton, Buckinghamshire, born circa 1490, died circa 1529, son of William and Joan Gurney of Eggington. Alice and Thomas had five sons and at least one daughter (perhaps three daughters). After Thomas Gurney's death, Alice remarried circa 1531 to JOHN TURNEY, born circa 1495 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, died before 10 Nov. 1540 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, son of Richard Turney. John's older two sons William and James were probably born of his first marriage. Alice was the mother of John's three younger childrem. If Alice was a Sheppard, she may have been related to her daughter-in-law Elizabeth Sheppard, who married her son Barnard.
In her 1936 study, pages 131-132, Helen Turney Sharps provides this overview of John's life and family:
"John Turney, of Hollingdon, a hamlet in Soulbury, was born probably about 1500, and died by 1540. His will, which might have told us much concerning his family, was unfortunately recorded in a lost Register. John was taxed in 1524 and 1525 (see Subsidies of those years), and his widow Alice in 1542. His death by 1540 is proved by a Rental of the possessions of Missenden Abbey, dated 10 Nov., 32 Henry VIII [1540], which shows among the copyholds at Broughton (in Bierton) "Alys Torney wydowe holdith a messuage with certeyn londys welding by yere . . . xxvj s. viii d." [P. R. O.--E. 315, vol, 405.] The will of John Turney is referred to in that of his widow Alice, made 31 Dec. 1551, proved 16 Jan. 1551/2, which is printed in full below. Alice was widow of Thomas Gurney of Broughton Abbots in Bierton, Bucks, who died 1528-9. She was probably a Sheppard of Littlecott. She had several Gurney children: Richard, Henry, John, William, and Thomas."
"It seems likely that John Turney was a widower with children when he married the widow Alice Gurney, and there are reasons for placing William and James hypothetically as his sons by a first marriage."
Sharps' sketch of John's life concludes with this list of his children:
Probable children by a first wife:
William, b. say abt. 1523. ...It may have been his widow, Cecily, whose will, dated 24 July 1576, proved 21 Nov. 1578, named sons Richard and James, and daus.;
she named James Turney the elder and Barnard Turney as overseers. When Richard Turney died in 1584, he made Barnard Turney trustee for one of his two daus.
James, b. say abt. 1525; will dated 25 Dec. 1584, proved 23 Feb. 1584/5; m. Margaret -----. He made Barnard Turney, senior, an overseer of his will.
Children by Alice (Sheppard?) Gurney:
Barnard, . . .
John, of Stoke Hammond.
Alice.
Alice [Sheppard?] (Gurney) Turney made her Last Will and Testament of Alice Turney at Hollingdon on 31 Dec. 1551 and then died probably early in 1552. She is probably buried in the central passage off the nave at Soulbury church. Following is an informative abstract of her will, by the late Mr. F. G. Gurney (died 1947):
"The Will of Alice TURNEY Widow of Hollingdon in the Parish of Sulbury dated the last day of December 1551 (note called Gurney & Turney indiscriminately in other documents)
"Alice gives to the powre mens boxe within the Churche of Sulbury four pence and to the powre people ten pence each. Directs that her husbands Will be truly performed, but it is unfortunately lost. To her son John TURNEY she gives besides his father bequest a couple of steers, the iron work for a cart, two quarters of Barley, two Sheep and three pewter platters. To her daughter Alice TURNEY Sheets, pewter platter, charger, candlesticks, chafing dish, a haunchgirdle, a gown, a basin of latten, a cupboard &c &c. Her son Barnard TURNEY is to give John and Alice 13 shillings and four pence each instead of some silver given them by their fathers Will. Her sons John and Barnard are to hold these bequests until they are distributed by the Overseers of the Will together with their fathers bequests. Then follow similar bequest to her son Barnard the elder of her two TURNEY sons.
"Then follow bequest attributed to her brood of Gurney children being John, William, Thomas, and Agnes who married ALLEN, a family named COLLYN who Mr. F. G. Gurney claims was another Gurney daughter’s family, probably Thomasine.
"Then Alice reverts to Barnard and gives six quarters of gain, partly wheat, partly Barley and Beans and a dung cart. To John TURNEY a dung cart. To Alice TURNEY her daughter her best curtain for a bed and her best pan. All other Wills void, Residue to sons Barnard TURNEY & John GURNEY and all unmarried children, and the sons are made Executors. Appoints Master John BOSPE the Lawyer of Bierton & Aylesbury to oversee my children. Will proved 16th of January 1552/3 at Whitchurch. Probate delayed by a Lawsuit. Administration to Barnard and John TURNEY."
Alice [Sheppard?] (Gurney) Turney thus had at least nine, or perhaps 11, children:
-- RICHARD GURNEY, born circa 1513, died circa 1551
-- HENRY GURNEY, born circa 1515
-- JOHN GURNEY, born circa 1517
-- WILLIAM GURNEY, born circa 1519
-- THOMAS GURNEY, born circa 1521
-- AGNES GURNEY, born circa 1523, married (NN) Allen.
-- [THOMASINE GURNEY?], born circa 1525, married (NN) Collyn.
-- [ELIZABETH GURNEY?], born circa 1527, married (NN) Roger.
-- BARNARD TURNEY, born circa 1531 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England.
-- JOHN TURNEY, born circa 1533 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England.
-- ALICE TURNEY, born circa 1535 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England.
Alice [Sheppard?] (Gurney) Turney's probable brother WILLIAM SHEPPARD the Younger of Littlecott in Stewkely, Buckinghamshire, England, died 1545/6, married ALICE (NN), who was the mother of William the Younger's son heir Thomas, born circa 1515, ancestor of the family of Cotton-Sheppard of Thornton-Hall, Buckinghamshire, Baronets.Thomas' wife was Constance Hawes, daughter of Thomas Hawes, Gent., of Edlicote, Warwickshire, and Elizabeth Brome, who was 11th. in descent from Sir William Longespee, Earl of Salisbury, illegimate son of King Henry II of England.
-- WILLIAM SHEPPARD, of Steeple Barton, had two sons.
-- THOMAS SHEPPARD, born circa 1515, died 1563/4, married Constance Hawes.
-- JOHN SHEPPARD, father of three sons.
Sheppard Genealogy Resources:
Mindrum Family History, with information on Alice [Sheppard?]. We Relate: Alice [Sheppard?]. Plantagenet Ancestry, Sheppard of Littlecote lineage to Henry II, King of England. Debrett's Baronetage of England (1832), Cotton-Sheppard of Thornton Hall. Parishes: Stewkley, British History Online, with information on the later Sheppards of Littlecote. Medieval hamlet of Littlecote