Mark Staniforth 
Robert Shepherd (1795-1867) was born in Appleton-Le-Moors, Yorkshire, England on 13 Feb 1795. He was the son of Robert Shepherd and Rachel (née Thorp).
Robert Shepherd married Ann Shepherd (1801-1858) on 2 Feb 1823 at Lastingham, Yorkshire. Robert (aged 48) arrived with his wife Ann (42) and eleven surviving children (John, Rachel, Ann Sussanah, Robert, Elizabeth, Hannah, Mary Jane, Joseph, George, Samuel and Thomas) aboard Francis Spaight from London on 23 Nov 1843. The vessel belonged to the firm of Shepherd and Lidgett, of which his brother was senior partner.
In a time when most emigrants were under 40 years of age, Robert and Ann Shepherd were an example of an older couple with a large number of children who provided a ready-made workforce in their new home. Robert and Ann eventually had fifteen children (9 sons and 6 daughters; 4 of whom died in infancy). The Shepherd family were resident at White’s Valley near Aldinga by 1845 or perhaps earlier. Robert Shepherd held an occupation license for the Aldinga Plains in September 1845 and their youngest son Hyett was born at Hawthorn Farm, Aldinga on 15 Sept 1845. Also in September 1845 Robert purchased section 220 (80 acres) for £89 10 shillings and Hawthorne Farm is located on section 220.
Robert Shepherd and his sons all became significant land-owners. In April 1846 Robert Shepherd purchased section 210 for £89 ten shillings, in 1847 section 200, in 1849 he purchased section 199 (country lot of 77 acres) for £77 1 shilling and finally in 1851 he purchased section 323 (78 acres) for £81 all located in the White’s Valley area (then called District C). By 1856 Robert Shepherd also owned land near Yankalilla and later at Myponga but he and his family appear to have remained living at Hawthorn Farm until his death in 1867.
Ann Shepherd, aged 57 years, died on 25 Dec 1858 and Robert Shepherd, aged 71 years (not 74 years as claimed on his memorial), died on 29 Jan 1867 at Aldinga. They are both buried in St. Stephen’s Anglican Cemetery in Willunga.
Main Photo – Robert Shepherd’s grave memorial stone on a chest tomb at St Stephen’s Anglican Cemetery, Willunga. (photo by Mark Staniforth 2018)
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