Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library P.O. Box 400110 University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110 URL: https://small.library.virginia.edu/
Sharon Defibaugh and Emily Shipman
Repository
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
Identification
MSS 14256
Title
Sheppard family papers 1883-1919, 1981-1999, undated
Charles Copeland (1756-1836), the great-great grandfather of James Herbert Sheppard, married Rebecca Nicholson (1767-1800)
and they had Charles Robert Copeland (1794-1828), who married Eveline Adams. Their daughter, Mary Ann Copeland (1821-1904)
married Thomas Johnson Robinson (1827-1898). They had a daughter, Louise Robinson (1859-1836) who married William Collins
Sheppard, (the son of Thomas Jefferson Sheppard) and they had James Herbert Sheppard.
Thomas Jefferson Sheppard (1834-1912) enlisted in the 97th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, having a strong conviction concerning
slavery, and was captured at the Battle of Missionary Ridge. He was imprisoned at Camp Sumter Prison. While imprisoned he
was referred to as "The Andersonville Chaplain." After being released he returned to his duties as a Baptist Minister.
James Herbert Sheppard was a First Lieutenant in the American Expeditionary Forces, Office of Chief Ordnance Officer, Engineering
Division. While in service in France, he was recommended for promotion. His wife's name was Emily.
The papers consist chiefly of personal letters and correspondence of James H. Sheppard during his service in France in World
War I. There is some information about his role in the development of the 155 mm Filloux gun.
There is also material relating to Thomas Jefferson Sheppard, including a reminiscence of his life that mentions his Civil
War service and detention in Andersonville prison; a piece of a stockade log from Andersonville; a manuscript of a speech
given by Sheppard at the Franklin Literary Society of Denison University, ca. 1883; and a photograph of Sheppard.
The collection also contains a typed extract from the diary of Charles Copland describing the 1811 Richmond Theatre fire.