Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-10-26
OBITUARY..

OBITUARY.
Deceased at her residence, in the CITY of Raleigh,
Mrs. NARY SHRPARR, on the 18th of October, 1864,
widow Of the late William Shepard, in the ninety
'hi.d (ssrd) year Of her sge.
Mrs. Shepard was the daughter o. Frederick
B!ount. Of Eastern Carolina, and was born on the
18th Of June. 1772, at Elmwood" or "The Elm"
in Pasquotank county, Stats of North. Carolina on
her ancestral property
The home Of her youth was peculiarly adapted
to develop and mature life full of natural grace
and beauty. Her mother, whose maiden name was
Mary Williams, and whose marriage with Frederick
Blount was celebrated on the. 9th of April, 1869.
had the mien and carriage of high bred lady, and
indalged in the most lavish hospitality entertaining
(as the author Of these lines was informed bv the
late Gov. IredelD, perhaps more than any one lady
in Carolina anterior to the American Revolution.
and possessing manners that would adorn cottage
or . palace. Her father. Frederick
Bloust was . lawyer, planter and gsntleman-a
most finished and polished gentleman of the old
Carolina school, distinguished for his virtues and
cultivation, an intimate friend Of the English Colonial
Governor Tryon, and when on visit to England
had the distinguished honor Of receiving from a
much higher parsonage, his Sovereign, George the
Third, present. now in the possession of his
grandson, the author Of these lines who also has
an unique piece of furniture brought over by the
father OF this Frederick, when returning from a
visit to the mother country. This Frederick sus.
tanned the constituted government of his country
IN prlpcipe and action was Of daring and dashing
courage, and withal of bold courage too (cf which
tradition gives us an anecdote), and of an unim-
peachab'e integrity but died before the revolution
actually broke out By marriage, his fortune was
such as to enable him to exhibit most generous
hospitality. His house was the centre Of the
highest culture and intelligence of the time In
this atmosphere was the young life of the present
deceased moulded. There being only two children,
and her sister, Sarah Blount dying at a very early
PERIOD she became an heiress, whose fortune was
atterward much increased by the death Of rela-
tive nephew Of the half blood, whose name was
Samuel, (who was also the nephew of the present
James Johnston of Chowan, one of the weal,hiest
individuals in Carelina,) the son of John Swan and
Penelope Johnston, who intermarried on the 4,h of
January, i790. Samuel was born on the 3Oth of
November, 1791 and dying on the l1th Of February,
l196, lett large estate to the present deceased;
VINO nearly two years previous on the 18th of May,
1884 having just arrived at the fulness of beauty
and the loveliness of womanhood, became united in
marriage to William Shepard, a federalist in opn.
ion, and by profession planter and merchant of
New6ern, where they resided after their mar,ag
At "Eimwood." William Shepard was possessed
OF uncommon financial ability, and but for an i'm
ped'ment IN speech would have entered public life,
to which he was much solicited He was the
uncle Of the Bddles of Pennsylvania-A icholas.
Richard, William and others, and of James B,ddle
ALI OF whom were very eminent and of the last
James Biddle, the celebrated McDufie, of South
Carolina, in his life of the same, remarked "be is
an honor to his country and has immortalized his
name"
Indeed, the character of Mrs. Shepard must lave
been very decided, for it is said that she could
influence her husband to great degree, who was
himself man of singular powers of mind and
research. Nor tha fhpvc of ~;
only that her rare endowments and her intuition in
detecting character enabled her to become the
adviser of her husband, but in that higher sphere
too whore God only can be the infallitle teacher
she became the gentle and loving guide Of her bus
band. True and faithful she was in all the varied
and responsible relations of life as well as in its
most minute concerns. In the dlspensations of her
charity her left hand knew not what her right hand
performed. As wife, daughter, mother, sister,
friend, she was an example for imitation, and to.
wards strangers always affable her native dignity
of character represslng without an effort anV un
meaning puerility. For long period she had been
. member of the Episcopal church, adorning the
doctrine of God, her Saviour, in all things The
wicked she thought much about and was anxious
tor, while she was accustomed to say that a mean
spirit allied with malice was rarely if ever reclaim
able. Her charity, however, was SO boundless that
she treated las indeed the gentleness of her sex
demanded), with forbearaace, not only those whose
principles she could not approve, but also those
whose principles were calculated to excite contempt
as well as adherence Now residing in Eewbern,
where such men as CASTOR, Spaight, Donnell,
Graham and Stanly and others were magnets Of
social attraction, she became popular BY her refine
ment and courtesies, and occupied distinguished
position
But let US withdraw our eyes from the outer
world and ix them on that inner circle of home
duties and graces and the household of which Mrs.
Shepard was the centre will present scene of
unmingled interest and loveliness. We find the
unusual spectacle of eight ten children arrived at
fulness Of years forming this family circle. 1t was
gadsomeness and the chastened cheerfulness of the
mother found their most congenial home. But
there no Edens INTO which care does not enter
no charmed circle which sorrow does not invade.
Early marriages first producing separations, death
afterward with no sparing hand invaded this happy
home. Still moro severe dispensations awaited her
patience and temper. Not one death only but
many occurred in quick succession, and, natures
order reversed, Mrs. Shepard, at her death, was
surrounded BY but few Of her immediate descen.
dants. Imperfect rs any sketch of the life of such
. woman must Of necessity be, it would appear,
unnecessarily 50, without at least glimpse Of that
more domestic life which is none the less beautiful
for being quiet and unobtrusive. Her grefs various
and multiplied IS they were, never unified her for
the duties of life. They chastened her life without
destroying it. Every period of her history was
characterized by the most careful and systematic
attention to the various duties Of her station Her
life affords most remarkable illustration of how
much may be accomplished by system and pune.
tuality. But what is mainly remarkable is that
during this same life of domestic care, and grief,
and trouble, and social courtesies she found time
also to communicate . portion of her Heavenly
thoughts TO paper in the form Of prayers or rather
may say, as indies to prayer.
For several years previous to 1885, the date o.
the removal of Mrs. Shepard from Newbern TO the
city of Raleigh, she had ceased to entertain much,
and never entertained afterward to the extent o
former days. Her mind wss strong and powerful
n ever, but her physical frame for the last two
years, before death, gradually underwent change
Her health had been feeble for several months pre-
vioss to her decease. Her mind, originally stront
| and powerful Wa retained to the last unimpairet