Robert Sheppard arrived in Australia on 24 October 1913 aboard "Miltiades" as a crew member. His wife, Alice Lidstone; their daughter, Louisa Bryant; their grandson (who was raised as their son) Charles Bryant; and Alice's niece, Florence Quick, all left England on 2 April 1914 aboard "Themistocles", bound for Australia via Brisbane. Louisa's husband, Frederick Bryant, also emigrated to Australia as did Louisa's brother, Frank.

Robert Sheppard had been a Grenadier Guard from 6 August 1881 to 7 November 1885, where he served in the Egyptian War, and the Sudan war. After leaving the military, he worked as a London Metropolitan Policeman from about 1891 until he retired shortly before leaving for Australia. He was also a blacksmith, as was father, Nias Sheppard. There were generations of Blacksmith's in the family, living and working around Amesbury, County of Wiltshire, England. After emigrating, Robert & Alice moved to Lisarow where they owned and worked an orange orchard with their son, Frank, and their grandson, Charles & his wife Stella.

Family legend has it that Nias Sheppard's father, Joseph, was the blacksmith that was written about in the infamous poem, The Village Blacksmith by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. On further research, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow would stay in the same village as Joseph Sheppard owned a blacksmith shop. In Henry Wadsworth Longfellows biographies, it is said that the poem was inspired by the blacksmith shop that was around the corner from where he stayed while in England.

Grenadier Guards - this is the Wikipedia page for Grenadier Guards

Grenadier Guards - the British military website for the guards

The Guards Museum - there is a Guards Museum in London, this is their website

Metropolitan Police - website for the history of the London Metropolitan Police

Themistocles - this website of the National Library of Australia has a picture of the ship that Louisa emigrated to Australia on

Themistocles - another picture of the ship

The Village Blacksmith - poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Wiltshire Family History - part of the GenUKI website. Has general information as well as genealogical information

Wiltshire Family History Society - it is possible to obtain Fiche from here with church records

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Other websites researching the same name

Alice Benson - Direct descendant of the Sheppard family. Her ancestor was the step=brother of mine

Stiles Genealogy

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