ABSTRACT
Myfather'snamewasWilliamShepard,borninalittlepoortowninNorthamptonshirecalledFossecut,nearTowcester,andbeingaprenticetooneMrBlanda grocerhemarriedoneofhisdaughtersofwhomhebegatmanychildren....Ido wellremembermyfatherandhavesomelittleremembranceofmymother.My fatherwasawise,prudentmanthepeacemakeroftheplace;andtowardhislatter endmuchblessedofGodinhisestateandinhissoul;fortherebeingnogood ministryinthetownhewasresolvedtogoandliveatBanburyinOxfordshire underastirringministryhavingboughtahousethereforthatend.Mymotherwasa womanmuchafflictedinconsciencesometimesevenuntodistractionofmindyet wassweetlyrecoveredagainbeforeshediedandIbeingtheyoungestshedidbear exceedinggreatlovetomeandmademanyprayersforme.ButshediedwhenI wasabout4yearsold,andmyfatherlivedandmarriedasecondwifenotdwelling inthesametown,ofwhomhebegattwochildren,SamuelandElizabethanddied whenIwasabout10yearsofage.
