Sheppard, George (1843-1916)

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Transcription of obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by A.B.

Now numbered among the “saints who from their labours rest” is Mr. George Sheppard, who passed away on April 12th. He was one of the good old school of country Primitives, his earlier years being spent in Hampshire, where he was converted at the age of nineteen.

Coming to London in 1866, he joined South Street Church, and later became connected with the Stoke Newington Circuit. He was present at the laying of the foundation stone of Castle Street Church. Mr. Sheppard was appointed superintendent of the Sunday school, which office he held for thirty-five years. 

Having had scarcely a day’s illness throughout his life, it was a great blow to him when, at the commencement of 1908, he was seized with a paralytic stroke. During this period he had a further trial in the illness of his wife, who, suffering from a lingering and painful malady, passed away in June, 1914. Another stroke at the age of seventy-three released his soul for the upward flight. His body now lies at rest in Abney Park Cemetery.

Family

George was born in 1843 at Kimpton, Hampshire, to parents Thomas, a farm labourer (1851), and Roseanna. He was baptised on 28 May 1843 at Kimpton.

Census returns identify the following occupations for George.

• 1861 agricultural labourer
• 1871 upholsterer’s porter
• 1881 porter
• 1891 timber porter
• 1901 porter at cabinet works
• 1911 no occupation

He married Elizabeth Wakefield (1840-1883) in late 1867 in the Stepney Registration District, London.

He married Charlotte Ingles (1850-1914) on 28 September 1884 at Willersey, Gloucestershire. Census returns identify two children.

• Florence Elizabeth (1885-1928) – a dressmaker (1911); married Edwin Frank Sanderson, a retired police constable (1939), in 1914
• George Ebenezer (1887-1891)

George died on 16 April 1916 at Stoke Newington, London.

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1916/782

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers