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that otherwise he "must go into gaol at a very
advanced age" even though his troubles were not
"Extravagance or Misconduct but the Times."
His schedule of personal property included books
and surveying instruments. ANNUAL INCOME: at
least £90.0.0 per year in rent from lots in Balti-
more Town, 1787. LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: ca.
79 acres in Baltimore County (all through pur-
chase). SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND BETWEEN
FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH: purchased 308 acres
in Baltimore County in 1777, but sold all of his
Baltimore County land in 1780; took 99-year leases
on numerous lots in Baltimore Town in 1782 and
1783, and agreed to build houses on many of
them; purchased an additional 11 acres in Balti-
more Town, which had been divided into lots, in
1782; sublet, leased out, mortgaged, or released
his claim on most of his Baltimore Town lots,
1783-1786. Shepherd's schedule of property at
the time of his insolvency petition listed lands in
Kentucky, a house and lot on Market Street in
Baltimore Town, and an unspecified number of
additional lots in Baltimore Town, some subject
to ground rents. WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: on No-
vember 12, 1787, in Baltimore Town. Shepherd's
obituary described him as "A gentleman of an
amiable benevolent Disposition, and whose Prob-
ity and Patriotism justly gained him the confi-
dence and Applause of his countrymen...."
SHEREDINE (SHERRIDINE), THOMAS (1699-
1752). BORN: in 1699, in Calvert County; only
son of father. NATIVE: third generation. RESIDED.
in Calvert County; moved to Baltimore County
ca. 1719, and lived near the head of Back River
on "Kingsbury." FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER:
Daniel Sheredine (?-1700), son of Thomas Sher-
edine (?-1677). STEPFATHER John Smith (?-1738).
MOTHER. Sarah (?-1747). HALF BROTHER. John
Smith (ca. 1719-1759). SISTER: Elizabeth. HALF
SISTER: Sarah Smith, who married second, Joseph
Hall (ca. 1701-?). STEPSISTERS. Rachel Smith,
who married Thomas Gantt (ca. 1710-1785); Jane
Smith (?-by 1738), who married (first name un-
known) Holland. MARRIED between August 25,
1718, and January 3, 1718/19, Tabitha (ca. 1691-
1769), widow of William Mills (?-1718) of Prince
George's County. CHILDREN. SONS. Daniel (ca.
1724-1749); Thomas (1726-1769), who married
Ann Cromwell; William Mills (1734- died young);
Jeremiah (?-1775), who married Cassandra and
died in Harford County, and Upton Sheredine
(1740-1800). DAUGHTERS: Sarah (ca. 1721-?),
who married ca. 1739 William Hammond (1702-
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1752); Elizabeth (1728-died young); Elizabeth
(1730-?), who married (first name unknown) Paca;
Ann (1732-?), who married (first name un-
known) Gary; and Tabitha, who married first,
(first name unknown) Richardson, and second,
(first name unknown) Dorsey. PRIVATE CAREER.
EDUCATION: literate. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION:
Anglican. SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Gent.,
by 1730; Esq., by 1748. Sheredine probably had
a close personal relationship with his stepfather
John Smith (?-1738), and Smith was an impor-
tant asset to his social status and career. OCCU-
PATIONAL PROFILE, merchant; planter; involved
in the iron industry. Sheredine described himself
as a merchant as early as November 1720, when
he recorded his power of attorney for the Balti-
more County affairs of John Smith (?-1738). Much
of the land he purchased in Baltimore County
had iron deposits and apparently Sheredine was
mining them, although there is no mention of a
furnace or forge on the property. By June 1734,
Sheredine was in some financial difficulty and
mortgaged his personal property, including "Iron
Bar," to secure a bond required by his dealings
with a London merchant. Later that year he sold
most of his land and the mineral rights to his home
plantation to the Principle Ironworks Company
for £800.0.0 sterling. PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLA-
TIVE SERVICE: Lower House, Baltimore County,
1725 (declared not eligible for election to the 1725-
1727 Assembly because he was undersheriff of
Baltimore County at the time of his election, dis-
missed on October 12, 1725), 1732-1734, 1734/
35-1737, 1738 (Accounts), 1739-1741 (Accounts
Cv-3; Bills of Credit 1-3), 1742-1744 (Accounts
1, 2; Bills of Credit 1, 2), 1745 (Accounts; Bills
of Credit), 1745/46-1748 (Accounts Cv 1, 1-3,
4; Bills of Credit Cv 1, 3, 4), 1749-1750 (Ac-
counts Cv-2; Bills of Credit Cv-2; elected sheriff
of Baltimore County before the 3rd session of the
1749-1751 Assembly). LOCAL OFFICES: St. Paul's
Parish Vestry, Baltimore County, 1722-1725,
1726-1729, 1730-1732, 1734-1737; deputy com-
missary general, Baltimore County, by 1723/24,
out of office by 1733; deputy sheriff, Baltimore
County, appointed 1724; sheriff, Baltimore
County, 1727-1730, 1750-death; justice, Balti-
more County, 1730-1745, 1747-1750 (quorum,
1733-1745, 1747-1750); commissioner, Jones
Town, Baltimore County, appointed 1732; com-
missioner, Baltimore Town, Baltimore County,
1745-1750; justice, Especial Court of Oyer, Ter-
miner, and Gaol Delivery, Baltimore County, ap-
pointed 1746, 1748, in office 1750/51 (quorum,
730
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