An American Family History

Abraham Shepard was born on March 7, 1642/03 in Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Ralph and Thankful Shepard.

He married Judith Sill on January 2, 1672/73 in Concord. She may have been the daughter of John and Sarah Sill.

Their children included:
Sarah Shepard Hartwell (1674, married John Hartwell),
Abraham Shepard (1677, married Abigail Lamson),
Judith Shepard Pettibone (1678, married Samuel Pettibone),
Hepzibah Shepard (1681),
Thanks Shepard (1683, married Daniel Adams and Joseph Pettibone),
Mary Shepard (1685/86),
Hannah Shepard Rugg (1689, married John Rugg).

In 1681 his father deeded part of his Cambridge land to him.

 He died on February 22, 1715/16 in Concord.

Children of Deacon Ralph Shepard and Thanklord Shepard Sarah Shepard Thomas Shepard John Shepard Isaac Shepard Trial Shepard Powers Abraham Shepard Thankful Shepard Dill Jacob Shepard

A Puritan was a member of the religious group in the 16th and 17th centuries that advocated "purity" of worship and doctrine who believed in personal and group piety. Puritans were persecuted in England and came to America so they would be free to practice their religion.

Some Puritans gave their children hortatory names (from the Latin for “encourage”) like Thankful, hoping that the children would live up to them. The names were used for several generations.

Old Style Calendar Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.

Any man entering a colony or becoming a a member the church, was not free. He was not forced to work, but his movements were carefully observed to see if they followed the Puritanical ideal. After this probationary period, he became a "freeman." Men then took the Oath of a Freeman where they vowed to defend the Commonwealth and not to overthrow the government.

Ralph Shepard, Puritan by Ralph Hamilton Shepard

Abraham Shepard of Concord, md. 1 Jan., 1672 Judith Philbrook dau. of John Sill, died 22 Feb., 1715/6

and had:
Sarah b. 7 Dec., 1674, md. John Hartwell 7 June, 1697:
Abraham b. 25 Mch., 1677, md. Abigail Lamson 11 Feb., 1700/1 and died 7 May, 1710, three chd:
Judith b. 24 Jan., 1678/9, md. Samuel Pettibone of Simsbury, Ct. 8 Nov., 1699:
Hepzebah b. 9 May, 1681:
Thanks b. 30 Jan., 1683/4:
Mary b. 8 Jan., 1685/6:
Hannah b 13 Sept., 1689, md. 8 May, 1711 John Rugg of Concord.

1677 Map of New England click to enlarge

from Genealogical and Personal Memoirs, Volume 3 by William Richard Cutter

Samuel [Pettibone], son of John Pettibone, was born September 2, 1672, in Simsbury, and spent his entire life there. He was a farmer, a well-known citizen and one of the foremost men of the town in his day.

He married Judith [Shepard], born January 11, 1679, daughter of Abraham and Judith (Sill) Shepard, of Concord, Massachusetts.

Her father, Abraham Shepard. was born in Boston, March 7, 1642, died in Concord, January 2, 1673. His father was Ralph Shepard, born in 1604, and came from London, 1635, in the Abigail. His wife was Thanks, born in England, 1612.

Her mother, Judith (Sill) Shepard, was the daughter of John and Joanna Sill. Both were born in England. John came to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he was in 1637. Joanna Sill died in 1671.

Children of Samuel Pettibone:
Samuel, born 1700;
Hepsibah, died February 25, 1755;
Jonathan, born 1709,
Isaac, June 19, 1711, died 1771;
Abraham, November 8, 1713, died July 30, I725