SHEPARD, William, soldier, born near Boston, Massachusetts, 1 December, 1737; died in Westfield, Massachusetts, 11 November, 1817. He enlisted in the provincial army at seventeen years of age, served in 1757-'63, was a captain under Sir Jeffrey Amherst, and participated in the battles of Fort William and Crown Point. He became colonel of the 4th Massachusetts regiment in 1777, and served till 1783, participating in twenty-two engagements, and winning a reputation for efficiency and courage. He settled on a farm in Medway, Massachusetts, after the peace, was a member of the executive council in 1788-'90, a brigadier-general of militia, and in that capacity during Daniel Shays's insurrection in 1786 prevented the insurgents from seizing the Springfield arsenal. He was subsequently major-general of militia, and in congress in 1797-1803.