Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 23,201, for John Shepard, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Shepard, John Haven, Lucy
W. 23,201
Former widow
CONTENTS
This woman's second husband, William Haven, also served in the Revolutionary War.

Burlington Vermont 964
Lucy Warren formerly wife of John Shepard dec. Mass
who died the in November 1785 Addison in the State of Vermont who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Bonds of the Reg t commanded by  in the Mass a line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 th day of June 1835 and sent Hon. Hon. Slade Middlebury Vt.
Arrears to the 14th of March 1835 $480.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. " 40.00 $520.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 d
fact. March 1837 H. H. Addison Clerk, Vol. Page 38
Recorded by Book 4

State of Vermont Addison County ss I Isaac Haver of Panton in the County of Addison and State of Vermont aged thirty five years the 15 th day of September last, being duly sworn do depose and say, That I am the son of William Haver late of Wykridge in said County of Addison deceased, and Lucy Haver his widow now living in Panton aforesaid, who has this day made her declaration before the Court of Probate held at Vergennes within & for the District of Addison New Haven in said County in order to obtain her pension under the acts of Congress, passed July 4, 1836 & March 3, 1837, and that the said William Haver my said father died at Wykridge aforesaid on the 4 th day of June A D 1824, and that my mother the said Lucy Haver has remained his widow ever since, having never been married since the death of the said her  William husband, the deponent saith not.
Isaac Haver.
Sworn to, and subscribed before me this 17 th day of April A D 1837 & I further certify that the above deponent is in my opinion a credible witness.
E. D. Phelps Judge Justice of the Peace for Addison Co. Vermont
State of Vermont Addison County ss I Sally Haver of Panton in the County of Addison and State of Vermont aged forty three years the 11 th day of August last being duly sworn do depose and say that I am the daughter of William Haver late of Wykridge in said County of Addison deceased & Lucy Haver his widow now living in Panton aforesaid, who has this day made her declaration before the Probate Court held at Vergennes within and for the District of New Haven in said County of Addison

in order to obtain her pension in pursuance of the acts of Congress passed July 4. 1836. & March 3. 1837 explanatory thereof - And that my said father the said William Harens died at Newbridge in said county on the 4 th day of June A D 1824. and that my mother the said Lucy Harens has remained a widow ever since, having never been married since the death of the said William Harens. and for this the deponent saith not Nelly Harens
Sworn to. and subscribed before me this 17 th day of April A.D. 1837. And I further certify that the above clip-onent is in my opinion a credible witness - Ellas D. Foster of the town for Addison Co. Vermont
State of Vermont } Adison County to } I Samuel Child of Weybridge in the County of Adison and State of Vermont aged seventy forty four years. The 1 st day of November last being duly sworn do say that I was well acquainted with John Shepard late of Weston in the County of Middlesex  Suffolk and State of Massachusetts deceased. Who was the husband in his life time of the widow Lucy Harris of Panton in said County of Adison. Who made her declaration before the Court of Probate of the District of New Haven on the 17 th day of April instant in order to obtain a pension to which she claims to be entitled in pursuance of the Acts of Congress passed July 4. 1836. & March 3. 1837 explanatory thereof - and that he was knowing to the said John Shepard in the years 1775 & 1776 having performed one years service as a soldier, in the Revolutionary War Massachusetts line, under a Capt. Dyer name the  the  the  the was bound - That the said Shepard during that year went up the Kennebec river to Quebec under the com- mand of Genl. Arnold for the purpose of capturing that place in which campaign he lost what little property he had together with his health he had the small pox while absent, & returned home with his health very much impaired, which I do not think he ever fully regained - and

that some time afterward I should think I fully believe in the Spring or fore part of the summer of the year 1781. The said John again enlisted into the service of the United States. Massachusetts line for the term of three years, and served for some time, after the year of 1783 when he was discharged, I do always understood honorably - I mention the truth that Shepard was not discharged as soon as the men who had enlisted during the war, but served for some time after their discharge before he was finally discharged - I always understood that the said Shepard served as a sergeant in the first Regt. of B. Company of the said Massachusetts line and part of the time he acted as clerk to Genl. or Col. Shepard - I am the brother of the said Lucy Haines, a deceased well knowing when she & the said John Shepard was married, which I believe to have been in the year 1777 and remember well that it was some three years before the last enlistment of the said John as a S gt . They went from home into the Town of Waltham, where the marriage cer- emony was performed. She had four children by the said Shepard. Three of whom are now living. The oldest of which is about fifty seven years old. I that said Shepard died at Newton after in the fall of the year 1785. about two years after his final discharge - The said Lucy remained the widow of the said Shepard until about the year 1792, when she was married to William Haines, at her town in said County of Middlesex. With whom she lived until as a wife until the summer of the year 1824, when the said Haines died, at New Bedford after and he then says that the said Lucy has remained a widow ever since. Having never been married since the death of the said Haines - The said Lucy had four children by Haines all of whom are now living and from the Disponent saith not Small Child
I am to subscribe before me the 21 st day of April A D 1837 & I for the with that the Disponent Saml Childs Esquire is in my opinion a medals without E. D. Woodbridge for P. C. for Adeline C. H. H. H.

State of Vermont Rutland County ss. I, Eunice Fitchet of New Haven in the County of Rutland & State of Vermont aged seventy six years the 12 th day of November last, being duly sworn depose and say that I am sister to Widow Lucy Hovey of New Haven and wife of the late William Hovey of New Haven deceased who made her declaration before the Court of Probate for the District of New Haven on the 11 th day of April last in order to obtain a pension to which she claim to be entitled under the acts of Congress passed July 4 th 1836. and of March 3 rd 1837. in explanation thereof - That I was well acquainted with John Shepard late of New Haven in the County of Rutland and State of Massachusetts. He returned home from the War in which he had a soldier about one year he came home sick which soon and his sickness was supposed to have been brought on by the hardships and sufferings he endured in the service. The said John Shepard and my sister Lucy Hovey were married at New Haven. I was present and the marriage ceremony was performed by Doct. Williams a Justice of the Peace - and according to my best recollection he again enlisted into the service of the United States for three years between 18 and 20 years after his marriage as aforesaid and I know that he was gone from home until the close of the Revolutionary War and that his wife was obliged to return to her father's house keeping her husband's absence when she received a letter from him stating that he was for the the different South West.
Eunice Fitchet
I hereby certify that Eunice Fitchet subscribed and made solemn affirmation to the truth of the above statements before me on the 29 th day of April A.D. 1837. and I further certify that in my opinion the deponent Mrs. Eunice Fitchet is a credible witness.
Ebenezer D. Dyer Justice of the Peace Rutland Co. State of Vermont
E. D. Woodbridge & Elijah G. Drake within & above named, were at the date of the certificates made by them respectively Justices of the Peace, acting under the authority of the State of Vermont and the signatures of their names on this paper are genuine
William Wade
May 29 th 1837

1943 Lucy Haver family info to Mr. Sheppard Friend of Mr. Haver N.Y.
$80 per ann. Comp 4 March 1831
For Mr. Hade Middlebury N.Y.

State of Vermont Addison County ss 3 On this 17 th day of April A.D. one thousand eight hundred & thirty seven. Personally appeared before the Board of Probate, being a Court of record. held at Vergennes within and for the District of New Haven in the County of Addison and State of Vermont. Lucy Hauen aged eighty years the 15 th day of this present April who being duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by of the Act of Congress passed July 4. 1836. and also of the Act of Congress made explanatory thereof passed March 3 rd 1837. That she is the widow of John Shepard, formerly of Chautauqua, in the State of Massachusetts who was a sergeant of the Revolutionary War in the Massachusetts line, she always understood & believes that the said John Shepard served one year in the United States Service as a private in the Massachusetts line before the 19 th day of November A.D. 1777 when she was married to him, & served in Capt Bond's Company of Watertown, Massachusetts line - And she further declares that in the Spring of the year A.D. 1781 at Newburyport the exact day she cannot say the said John Shepard enlisted into the service of the United States Massachusetts line for the term of three years & received the distinctly real value one hundred & thirty dollars bounty. His Captain's name she does not recollect but she recollects will be belonged to the first Massachusetts Regiment and the 6 th Company - In his first term of duty before the declarant's marriage with the said John she always understood & believes that the said John was one of the soldiers that went with Genl Arnold up the Kennebec thro' the woods to Quebec, for the purpose of taking or capturing that place, in which campaign he lost what little property he had and also his health, he had the small pox near Quebec, and that during his last term of service

on the 26 th September 1781. He was at Springfield, and at Great Point March 27 1782. & at New Bedford April 28. 1783, as appears by the said John's letters to the declarant. Said said letters are hereto annexes - and she further says that the said John Shepard continued in the service of the United States until some time after the peace of 1783 when he was honorably discharged, as she always understood & fully believes. This discharge by time or accident is lost - she further declares that she was lawfully married to the said John Shepard at Waltham in said State of Massachusetts on the 15 th day of November A D 1777 by Esq. Williams then a Justice of the peace in said State of Massachusetts, whose Christian name she has Ingraham, the said Williams then living in said Waltham; she has no record of her marriage and that the said John Shepard her said husband died at Newton in said State of Massachusetts in the Month of November A D 1785, the exact day she does not remember - and she further says that she had remained the widow of the said John Shepard until the Month of August A D 1792, the precise day she does not remember when she was lawfully married at Newtown in said State of Massachusetts to William Hare then of said Newton, by Stephen Dana Esq. then a Justice of the peace in said State of Massachusetts. The said Dana then living at said Newtown, - she has no record of her last marriage, and that the said William Hare her said last husband, died at Weybridge in said County of Addison, State of Vermont the 4 th day of June A D 1824 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, - and she further declares, that she always understood & believes, that the said Hare was a soldier in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary war. she believes he was in the battle of Lexington, or Lake Champlain under Gen l Arnold, and in other skirmishes, but the time,

he said she does not remember - she had four children by Shepard. Three of them are now living, the eldest of which is fifty seven years of November last. She also had four children by the said Haver, all of them she believes to be now living - The proof her widowhood will more fully appear by reference to the proofs hereto annexed. Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year above written - Lucy Haver.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year above written B. Gar. Harvey Merrill Judge
State of Vermont Probate District of New Haven } I John P. Foss, Register of the Probate Court for the District of New Haven do certify that Harvey Merrill whose name is above written is the Judge of the Probate Court for the District aforesaid, & that the signature above annexed is his genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name & the seal of the said Probate Court, this 17 day of April A.D. 1837 -
J. P. Foss

76 John Kripke of Capt Bond C Watertown 81 int 349

Waltham Ms. April 25 th 1837. The following is a true and correct copy from the Record Book of this Town.
Nov. 13 th 1777. John Shepherd of Newton, and Lucy Child of Weston in said county, were joined in marriage by Leonard Williams, Justice of Peace Attest, Jesse G. Sanger, Town clerk of Waltham.
Middlesex ss. Waltham April 26 th 1837 Then personally appeared Jesse G. Sanger Town clerk of the Town of Waltham and made oath that the foregoing by him subscribed was a true copy of the original Record
Before me Luke Fiske Jus. Peace
Waltham April 26 th 1837. I hereby certify that the above named Jesse G. Sanger is a credible witness, and implicit confidence may be placed in his acts
Luke Fiske Jus. Peace
Middlesex ss.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
I Isaac Fiske Register of the Court on and for the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth aforesaid, hereby certify that Luke Fiske Esquire, is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County of Middlesex, duly commissioned & qualified, & that the signature of the said Luke Fiske, here above written is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court of Probate, this twenty seventh day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred & thirty seven
Isaac Fiske Reg.

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section.
Ans Ans
January 17, 1928
Miss Bertram French Medora Ill.
Madam:
I have to advise you that this Bureau is unable to furnish the history of a soldier of the Revolution, unless a claim for pension or bounty land has been made on account of his services, and a careful search of the records fails to show such a claim on file on account of the services of any soldier named William Haven.
From the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W. 23201 of Lucy Haven, widow of John Shepard , it appears that Lucy Child was born April 15, 1757 and married, November 13, 1777 at Waltham, Massachusetts, John Shepard, he died in November 1785 at Weston, Massachusetts, and she married in August 1792 at Newton, Massachusetts, William Haven of said Weston and he died June 4, 1824 at Weybridge, Addison County, Vermont.
The widow Lucy Haven was allowed pension on

account of the services of her husband, John Shepard, in the War of the Revolution.
She stated in said claim that her husband William Haven served in the War of the Revolution, was at the battle of Lexington, on Lake Champlain under General Arnold, and in other skirmishes.
She had four children by her husband, William Haven, all of whom were alive in 1837, only names given were- Isaac Haven, born September 15, 1800, a resident of Panton, Addison County, Vermont; 1857 1837 ; and Nelly Haven, born August 11, 1793, and living in Panton, Vermont, 1837.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 23201
Lucy Weaver Formerly wife of John Shepard Pier. Rev. nor.
Act: July 4 th 1836.
Index:—Vol. A , Page 317
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1928 Jan. 17. H. S. to Miss Beatrice French Aug. See letter in Samuel Child W 23796

Middlebury, Vt. May 29. 1837
Sir
I send, herewith, the papers of Mrs. Lucy Hawn. The letters to which she refers in her declaration were not strictly attached to the orderation by the Judge of probate, & I presume it will not be regarded as necessary. I know that they are the letters to which she refers.
She is not able to state the names of officers from defect of memory; but, states what appears in one or more of the letters the N o of the N. E. & Comp y . to which her husband belonged, which will probably enable you to find his name on the rolls.
Yours respectfully
William Slade
J. L. Edwards Esq.

June 8
FREE
J. L. Edwards Esq
Commr. of pensions Washington D.C.

Middlebury Vermont June 2. 1837
Sir
I send, enclosed, another letter from John Shepard to his wife to be used as evidence in the case of the application of Susy Harn for a pension, whose papers I sent you a few days ago.
Very respectfully
Your obedient servant
William Stade
J. L. Edwards Esq.

11. 10. 1881
Handwritten text, possibly in Arabic script.
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page. The text is mostly illegible due to the orientation and fading.]
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]

Miss Lucy Shepard
Wadsworth
Weston
Brooklyn

My Dear
Wednesday Springfield, Sept. 26 1781 -
This is to inform you that I am yet in good Health, and I hope this will find yourself and Children, in the same Enjoyment -
I had no Opportunity to send the other Letters yesterday. But send them this Morning by M c Abijah M c L e who Promises to leave them at Capt. Isaac Jones or M c Pierces Tavern -
I shall Direct all my Letters to be left at Capt. Jones or M c Benj m Pierce -
I have many Enemies to Oppose
Therefore Beg your Prayers for me that I may have Strength and Wisdom given me to Overcome and to Hold out to the end - I find that my Strength Increases lately and I hope it will Increase - My Dear, you are very sensible that there is many false Spirits gone forth in the World - Therefore should advise you not to mind much about old Womens Fables, nor yet Read much in History - I Beg you would not attempt to Read Winchesters Book (that he has sent from Philadelphia) for it is a Bewitching piece of Work - I hope you will Read much in Gods Word Watch and Pray that you Enter not into Temptation - I am my Dear with Every Sentiment of Love and Esteem your most Affectionate Husband -
To Mrs Lucy Shepard John Shepard

My Dear
Westpoint Ap d 15 th 1752 - - - -
After my most Affectionate Regard to yourself and our Children, I would Inform you that Through the goodness of God, I Enjoy a good Degree of Health in Body and mind, and hope this will find yourself and Children in the same Enjoyment, - - - I hope you will not live as without God in the world, but that you will Remember the solemn Obligation that you are under to live to God's Glory, in this Present world. I don't put you in mind of this Thinking that you Neglect your duty so much as I do; but I dare say we are Exhorted in Scripture to Stir up, one another's pure minds by way of Remembrance, I hope you will be constant in Prayer, first Because it is Christ's command, Secondly Because it was an example that Christ and all his Apostles set for us to follow them in; Thirdly Because of the Glorious Effects that it has; Consider how Elijah Prayed and it Rained not for a Space of time, and Again he Prayed and the Heaven sent Forth Rain, Consider how Christ has Declared that Whatsoever we ask the Father in his Name it shall be Granted us, - - - O how Glorious how Infinitely Great is this Privilege, that we Polluted worms should be Suffer'd to converse with a Holy God. O let us watch and Pray that we Enter not into Temptation; and now let us Pray to God that we may be kept from every Sin, Especially from Sinning against God, and Dishonouring his Sacred Name. - - - - - Glory to God that there is Reformation in Many parts of our land, The Lord Reigneth let Zion Rejoice and be glad in her King. - - - - - I was in Great hopes when I Wrote my last Letter to you, not to have had any Occasion to Write to you Again, but to have been at home with you Before this time, - - - but to my Great Disappointment and sorrow I have heard Nothing from Mr. Felton nor from you but I hope to soon; I have Borrowed one of

the Men that Mr. Fickom was to bring to me and it will be a great Damage and Disappointment if he does not come. I suppose you know by this time whither he is like to come or not, if he is a coming I would have you talk with your Mother in Law about her Thirds, and take them to the Half's if you can, if he is not coming I hope you will not Delay but Write to me immediately, and let me know how all our Matters are. I should be considerable well contented here if it was not for the Crossroads.
The things that makes me something uneasy yet hope I shall be conform'd to the will of God. Beg your continual Prayers to God for me, for Surely I have much need of them at this time, when I am surrounded with all manner of Temptations and Iniquity.
I send this letter by Brother Ezekiel Waters, he is obliged to set out home under very Poor Circumstances, and I hope you will Entertain him as well as you can, if he should come in the after part of the day, I hope you will give him an invitation to stay over Night.
if you want to know any thing that I do not Write, you can talk with him, and he will be likely to let you know any thing about me that you have a mind to ask him for he has been my Messmate in the same
Regiment and he is I hope an experienced Christian
I send a pair of White Woollen Over-Halls by him, which I hope you will take Particular care of. Also of what Cloaths I left at home you may make me a Suit of Cloaths if you please for I can get you a plenty of Blankets
No News and no Money in Camp I am with every
Sentiment of Respect and Esteem your Affectionate Husband
John Shepard
To Mrs. May regard
My Dear Boy for me

The Baptist Church in Newton

Dear Brethren
Westpoint March 27 1782
I would Inform you that through the mercy of God our Saviour, I Enjoy a good degree of Health and strength in Body and mind, I wish Brethren this may find you Enjoying the same Blessing. Salvation is from the Lord, Therefore let us Rejoice and Praise his Name for all those Blessings that we are daily made the Partakers of. - Glory to God that I Remain Steadfast in my mind in the Doctrines of the Gospel, and that I feel Noways Shaken in my mind, at the same time must confess a Sorrow that I live no more Agreeable to the Gospel that I Profess; - Brethren let your conversation be as it Becometh the Gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your Affairs, that ye stand fast in one Spirit, with one mind Striving together for the Faith of the Gospel; and Nothing Terrified by your Adversaries: which is to them an Evident Token of Perdition, but to you of Salvation and that of God. --- Brethren for your Encouragement, I would Inform you of a Glorious Reformation, that has lately taken place in Canterbury in Connecticut. I am Informed that a little Girl About Seven or Eight years old. Being at School was Brought to Realize Death, Judgement, and Eternity which Caused her to weep and Cry out Bitterly, so that it Occasion'd much Disturbance in the School the Master Asked her the Reason of her out Cry to which she gave him no answer, upon that he sent out and got a Stick. Threatning to beat her if she did not tell him the Reason. --- upon which

which the Poor Little Girl Cried out in a Mournful Voice and said, O I must Die, I must Die, and what will Become of my Poor soul Then; for I am a great Sinner, a great Sinner; & these words sounded Severely Through the Hearts of the whole School, and Struck them so in the Heart, that it caused them to cry out what they should do to be saved, and from thence it spread Through the whole Town, it came into a Latin School in that place and put them into the greatest Confusion, it broke up all their Humane Studies, and put them upon seeking the one thing Needful; - - - and it is hoped in a Deed of Charity that it spread in the Saving Convention of a great part of that Town. The Lord Reigneth let Zion Rejoice and be glad in her King, who is About to cut short his work in Righteousness, and Prepare his Bride for the Marriage, and Blessed is Every one that is made a welcome guest Thereunto
My Dear Mother I hope you will not Neglect the gift of Prayer that God has Bestow'd on you, for it seems there was never more need of seeking mercy at the Throne of Grace for ourselves and others than at This present time when all manner of Iniquity Abounds in our Land Especially in this Camp. Myself and one brother are set up as marks for God's Enemies to shoot their venomous arrows at. (we live together in one Room) we are made their Daily Jest, Aha, Aha, say they; there is two New Lights; when we are Reading the Bible or singing of Psalms, the Devil will set his Dogs to Barking at us but Blessed be God they are not suffer'd to Wite or harm us; - let it be on Lord's Day or an other they will sing all manner of Confused songs Some and hold themselves in all manner of Debauchery. we do; and will Rejoice that we are found worthy

Suffer Shame for the Name of Christ our Lord, Brethren pray for me; for our Brother mentioned in this Letter, and all our Brethren that are thus confined with the Enemies of the Gospel of Christ, - pray also for our Enemies knowing that all hearts are in God's Hands and that he is well Able to turn them to Himself. Brethren stand fast in the Faith abounding in Love Toward God and one another
that Christ be not wounded in the House of his friends Now unto him that is Able to keep us from falling be all glory and Praise Forever and ever I Something Expect to come home this Spring - if I should not, I hope you will Write to me Every Opportunity. This from your Brother in Christ
John Shepard
83. Since I Wrote this; I hear there is a general Reformation in the Town of Hardwick, in the State of Mass.
if you should Write to me, I am in the first Mass. - Regt. - 6 th Company
There is several in this Regt. that has made a Confession of Religion, in the Baptist Order but are now fallen into Drunkenness and Profanity, which makes my Heart Tremble within me lest I should also fall; knowing that I am also in the Body. Brethren consider my condition; Pray for me - your Brother -
J. Shepard
To the Baptist Church & Vester

Mrs
Lady Elizabeth
Weston
18th Dec 1800

My Dear,
Springfield Nov. 9 th
After my Dutiful Love and Prayers to you our Children, and Friends, I would say that I am well, and hope this will find you and Children enjoying the same Blessings.
My Dear I hope you will be our Masters with as much wisdom and Prudence as you can. — if your Father has should Horse for me, I wish you would use all Influence, to have him used carefully, and his Back hurt, with the saddle for I expect to have to Considerable this winter — I mean to Father keep the Horse, for Himself, or sell can for Forty Dollars (and not less).
I am to take the command of a Co. and set out for Camp tomorrow morning which I do, Supposing that it will be much better than to stay here, for a Particular Reason.
I have great Reason to suppose to Return Home soon After I Arrive. if not I shall Write to you soon let you know further of the Matter.
I wish you all the comforts of the Spirit; and tho' you are Deprived of my yet I hope your Joy will be made full Complete in the Enjoyment of God, you may be Rooted and grounded in of the Gospel, that you may not be from the Faith of Christ — will not give your mind much to History Men that Write have not faith, They are Exceeding liable to Errors. — But

Then Read your Bible much, as that is wrote by Inspiration of the Spirit of God; therefore cannot be in an Error -- and if God Grant you his Spirit to guide into all Truth -- and may you -- by faith on the son of God, and ye have that hope that Reacheth to within the Vail, which will be as an anchor to your soul, which will not give in all times of Trouble; it will carry you above all the Darts of the Devil -- continue in Prayer and Forget not your best Companions for I find there is corruption in my Heart; Again I say unto you, I say unto all Watch and Pray that you Enter not into temptation -- Watch unto Prayer -- and be sober -- God grant that may both Live as Becomes the Gospel of the Lord --
I am with Great Respect and Esteem your Affectionate Husband --
John Shepard
Pray to Remember me to your Father's family --
John Shepard --
I would not have you Depend too much on my speedy Return Home as it is a Doubt in my mind at Present

Mrs Lucy Shepard
son
Newton
My Dear
Camp New Windsor Ap. 28 th 1783
It is with great Satisfaction that I now embrace an Opportunity of Writing to you, would Inform you that I am in good Health, and hope this will find yourself Children, and all our Relatives and Friends in the same Enjoyment. I do now with heart felt Satisfaction congratulate you on the certain and important Intelligence of Peace. Through all Nations of the Earth Peace was Proclaimed in General Orders the 19 th of this Present Month - which is matter of great Satisfaction to all who are prepared to receive it. It is the Lords Doing and it is Marvellous in our Eyes, O that we may as a People Ascribe the Victory and Glory to the Lord the Almighty Prince of Peace, who has all Power in Heaven and Earth, who can create War, and make Peace, among the Nations of the Earth, and Glory to his Name.

That in the Midst of Judgment He has remembred Mercy and granted Peace to this Distressed Land, O How Infinite is his love and his ways are past finding out, O may our hearts be Enlarged with love and Gratitude unto the Lord for all his Benefits conferd on America. I Expect that the Men that was During the War, will be Discharg'd Before the 15 th of May next but its Remains are uncertainty when the three years men will be Discharge Tho' I am in hopes of being Discharg'd within two or three Months, However this may be, I desire to be contented with the Alotment of Providence Toward me in all things. I hope you will conduct all our Affairs with as much Prudence as you can I should think it much best if you can for you to stay at your Father's
till I return, to seek your ease and Happiness (which will Ever be my study) I received your kind Letter that you sent by Mr. Ware also one by Mr. Stagg for which I give you many Thanks, and hope you will not miss an Opportunity of Writing to me while I am Absent from you
I now conclude wishing you the divine protection in all times of Trouble and Distress, and Every Needful Blessing in this life, and complete Felicity in the Life to come.
I am with great Respect and Esteem your Affectionate Husband and lasting friend John Shepard
I have had the privilege of hearing the Gospel Preached in the town and County of it Every Lords day for About two Months past, by a Baptist Minister
Please to remember me to your Father and Family and all our Relatives and friends
Pray for us