James E. Shepherd
Encyclopedia
James Edward Shepherd was a lawyer and jurist who served on the North Carolina Supreme Court
.
Shepherd was born at Mintonville, near Suffolk, Virginia
, the son of Thomas Swepson Shepherd (1811–1860) and his first wife Ann Eliza Browne (1813–1852). After the outbreak of the American Civil War
, James, not quite 14 years old, claimed to be eighteen and joined Company A, 16th Regiment, of the Virginia Infantry, as a private. At the end of summer in 1862, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia
moved into Maryland during its first invasion of the North. During this campaign young Shepherd revealed the fact that he was only fifteen and was discharged from military service near Frederick, Maryland, on September 8. He spent the remainder of the war as a telegraph operator under contract with the C.S.A.
War Department, first in Giles County, Virginia
, then at Wilson, North Carolina
.
Shepherd attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
in 1867 and 1868, and was admitted to the bar and opened a practice in Wilson
in 1869. After marrying, he moved to Washington, North Carolina
to join his father-in-law in his law practice. He became active in local politics, serving as chairman of the Beaufort County Democratic Party
. In 1875, Shepherd was elected delegate from Beaufort County
and Pamlico County
to the state Constitutional Convention, where he authored a provision on county government. The following year, 1876, he was elected judge of the Beaufort County Inferior Court, an office he held until 1882 when he was elected judge of the Superior Court
. Shepherd was elected as an associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court in 1888 and was appointed chief justice in late 1892 (after the death of Chief Justice Augustus Summerfield Merrimon
). Shepherd served as chief justice until 1895 when he was defeated for re-election to the high court.
Shepherd should not be confused with James E. Shepard
, founder of North Carolina Central University
.
North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices...
.
Shepherd was born at Mintonville, near Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk is the largest city by area in Virginia, United States, and is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,585. Its median household income was $57,546.-History:...
, the son of Thomas Swepson Shepherd (1811–1860) and his first wife Ann Eliza Browne (1813–1852). After the outbreak of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, James, not quite 14 years old, claimed to be eighteen and joined Company A, 16th Regiment, of the Virginia Infantry, as a private. At the end of summer in 1862, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
moved into Maryland during its first invasion of the North. During this campaign young Shepherd revealed the fact that he was only fifteen and was discharged from military service near Frederick, Maryland, on September 8. He spent the remainder of the war as a telegraph operator under contract with the C.S.A.
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
War Department, first in Giles County, Virginia
Giles County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,657 people, 6,994 households, and 4,888 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 7,732 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
, then at Wilson, North Carolina
Wilson, North Carolina
Wilson is a city and the county seat of Wilson County in the Coastal Plain region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The 18th largest city in the state, Wilson had a population of 49,167 according to the 2010 census.- Geography :...
.
Shepherd attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
in 1867 and 1868, and was admitted to the bar and opened a practice in Wilson
Wilson, North Carolina
Wilson is a city and the county seat of Wilson County in the Coastal Plain region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The 18th largest city in the state, Wilson had a population of 49,167 according to the 2010 census.- Geography :...
in 1869. After marrying, he moved to Washington, North Carolina
Washington, North Carolina
Washington is a city in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 9,744 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Beaufort County. The closest major city is Greenville, approximately 20 miles to the west....
to join his father-in-law in his law practice. He became active in local politics, serving as chairman of the Beaufort County Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. In 1875, Shepherd was elected delegate from Beaufort County
Beaufort County, North Carolina
- Law and government :Beaufort County is a member of the Mid-East Commission regional council of governments.Beaufort County is one of the proposed sites for a Navy outlying landing field. This practice airfield would allow pilots to simulate landings on an aircraft carrier...
and Pamlico County
Pamlico County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,934 people, 5,178 households, and 3,717 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 6,781 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
to the state Constitutional Convention, where he authored a provision on county government. The following year, 1876, he was elected judge of the Beaufort County Inferior Court, an office he held until 1882 when he was elected judge of the Superior Court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
. Shepherd was elected as an associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court in 1888 and was appointed chief justice in late 1892 (after the death of Chief Justice Augustus Summerfield Merrimon
Augustus Summerfield Merrimon
Augustus Summerfield Merrimon was a Democratic U.S. senator from the state of North Carolina between 1873 and 1879....
). Shepherd served as chief justice until 1895 when he was defeated for re-election to the high court.
Shepherd should not be confused with James E. Shepard
James E. Shepard
James E. Shepard was the founder of what became the only taxpayer-funded liberal arts college for blacks in the nation, North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina.-Personal life and family:...
, founder of North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University is a public historically black university in the University of North Carolina system, located in Durham, North Carolina, offering programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, professional and doctoral levels....
.