Dr Shepherd of Portglenone

[Link2Past]

I've been told one of my relatives married a Dr Shepherd of Portglenone.  This would probably have been in the 1940's.

I've just had a look on Google and have found reference to Dr John Shepherd, born and raised in Portglenone and who went to USA in 1957, and his brother Dr Fred Shepherd, GP in Portglenone (the more likely candidate).  Also their father Rev William Fred Shepherd, who was minister at 3rd Portglenone Church.

I cannot find William Fred Shepherd in either of the Ireland censuses 1901 or 1911 so I wondered if anyone could help?  Is the spelling correct?  Are there any other possible sources I could try?

Thanks in Advance

[scotmum]

There was a 1947 marriage in Portstewart Presbyteriann church, between a Dr Frederick Shepherd (son of a Rev W F Shepherd, the Manse, Raphoe, Donegal) and an Alexandra Rose Rainey, BA. Her late father noted as of Randalstown, her mother of Portstewart.


Dr John Shepherd. https://www.ballymenatimes.com/news/nobel-prize-winner-hailed-from-portglenone-1-3161636

A Brian Shepherd, son of a Dr Fred and Alia (could this be a form of Alexandra?) http://www.passedaway.com/notice/brian_shepherd/18985/

[scotmum]

Possibly W. F. Shepherd at school in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Ballyhackmore/Ballycloughan/1222793/

William Frederick Shepherd married Matilda Thompson on 26/1/1914. First son born was a William Henry Thompson Shepherd* born in November 1914.

A Rev W F Shepherd was installed at Raphoe in 1930, retirement announced in 1961.

A Dr John Thompson Shepherd, youngest son of Rev W F Shepherd, Raphoe, married a Helen Mary Johnston in Belfast in 1945.


A Dr F Shepherd was ordained as an Elder in 3rd Portglenone in 1958, Dr W F Shepherd of Raphoe, Dr Shepherds father, was one of the ministers who offered ordination prayers at the service.

*Possibly the William Henry Thompson Shepherd: special lectureship in Fine Arts for 1956-57, at QUB?

[scotmum]

William Frederick Shepherd's parents in 1901 census:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Tierkelly/Seafin/1201341/

and 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Tirkelly/Seafin/205224/

William Frederick Shepherd was born at Seafin in 1885.

[Link2Past]

Thanks Scotmum - I did wonder if being a minister William Frederick would have moved around and it looks like he did.  I'll dig a bit more with the helpful hints you've given.  I think you have identified the right people for me - Many Thanks!

[aghadowey]

This may help- (from A History of the Congregations in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 1610-1982)
3rd PORTGLENONE: Mr. William Frderick Shepherd was ordained on 7 Dec.1911 and after 19 years was called to Raphoe on 6 May 1930.

1st & 2nd RAPHOE: The Rev. William Frederick Shepherd, who followed Mr. Conroy [Connery], had been licensed in Princetown, U.S.A., and then received by the Rathfriland Presbytery. He was installed in Raphoe on 14 May 1930 and served the congregation faithfully ad well until his retirement on 7 Feb.1961. He retired to Bangor and died on 11 June 1970.

www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Tirkelly/Seafin/205224
William's occupation Presbyterian Gen^l [General] Assembly not Presbyterian Gas Security 
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai002141814/

Looks like Mrs. Shepherd didn't get to enjoy her husband's retirement too long- perhaps she was already ill when they left Raphoe-
Shepherd Eleanor of 21 Farnham Road Bangor county Down widow died 26 August 1930 Administration Belfast 21 January to Evelyn Louisa Morrow widow. Effects £5.

Shepherd reverend William of 21 Farnham Road Bangor county Down presbyterian minister died 13 July 1926 Probate Belfast 21 October to reverend William Frederick Shepherd and reverend Hugh Jordan Lilburn presbyterian ministers. Effects £728 19s. 9d.

[Link2Past]

Thanks very much, that's very helpful.  I did wonder about the 'Gas Security' which definitely seemed wrong (I'd not got round to reading the original image) so thanks for providing a sensible version 

[Link2Past]

1st & 2nd RAPHOE: The Rev. William Frederick Shepherd, who followed Mr. Conroy [Connery], had been licensed in Princetown, U.S.A., and then received by the Rathfriland Presbytery. He was installed in Raphoe on 14 May 1930 and served the congregation faithfully ad well until his retirement on 7 Feb.1961. He retired to Bangor and died on 11 June 1970.

Looks like Mrs. Shepherd didn't get to enjoy her husband's retirement too long- perhaps she was already ill when they left Raphoe-
Shepherd Eleanor of 21 Farnham Road Bangor county Down widow died 26 August 1930 Administration Belfast 21 January to Evelyn Louisa Morrow widow. Effects £5.

Shepherd reverend William of 21 Farnham Road Bangor county Down presbyterian minister died 13 July 1926 Probate Belfast 21 October to reverend William Frederick Shepherd and reverend Hugh Jordan Lilburn presbyterian ministers. Effects £728 19s. 9d.

Hi Aghadowey

Just trying to piece it together - I have a birth record for one of the children of William Frederick Shepherd from civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie and that shows the wife of Rev William Frederick Shepherd as Maggie Thompson (this is also in the information from Scotmum).

Do you think the Eleanor whose death / probate you mentioned is the wife of William who died in 1930 - and presumably these are the parents of Rev. William Frederick of Raphoe?

It is a shame not to have a census with the whole family together at any point, but I believe these are the right group of Shepherds I'm looking for.

[aghadowey]

Checking a bit further-

Eleanor Shepherd was 77 years old according to GRONI's index when she died in 1930 (so, born c1853).
Northern Whig, 28 Aug.1930: SHEPHERD—August 26, 1930. at 21, Farnham Road, Bangor, Eleanor, widow of Rev. William Shepherd, Ballyroney. Funeral private.

Marriage of William Shepherd, Presbyterian minister, Stewartstown, to Eleanor Alester of Lisburn on 9 Apr.1874- his father a farmer also named William Shepherd-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1874/11236/8119742.pdf

Birth of daughter Eleanor Maud Alister Shepperd on 18 Dec.1880 at Gargary-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1880/02854/2045855.pdf
She died 1898 age 17 from a number of causes-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1898/05815/4646248.pdf

William Shepherd & wife Eleanor in 1901- just one daughter (Lena age 9) in household-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Tierkelly/Seafin/1201341
More details in 1911- married 26 years, 5 children (only 3 of them living)-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Tirkelly/Seafin/205224

Using GRONI's index I found these 2 other births which gives mother's maiden surname-
William Shepherd born 22 Mar.1885 Banbridge district (Alister)
Evelyn Shepherd born 9 Apr.1891 Banbridge district (Alister)- Lena?

William Frederick born 1885-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1885/02650/1977036.pdf
Evelyn Louise born 1891-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1891/02392/1892016.pdf

Evelyn married 1915 Rev. William Morrow-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1915/09827/5568318.pdf
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1915/09816/5564456.pdf

Evelyn's husband died 12 years after they married (note address is same as where her mother Eleanor died)- Morrow William of 21 Farnham Road Bangor county Down presbyterian minister died 12 September 1927 Probate Belfast 7 November to Evelyn L. Morrow the widow. Effects £489 11s. 1d.