Warning: These records can be very confusing. There are several widows with unknown husbands on the Sheppard side, and a lot of uncertainty on the Gipson side.
The Sheppards
1840 – Gilmer County, Georgia
– Anne Sheppard is head-of-household with three females in the house, one under 5, one 5-10, and one 20-30. She is listed as 50-60. She is the grandmother of Mary Hickman, Anna Rosinda Gipson’s mother. Young Mary would be 1, Eliza 7, and Ann 22. The name of Anne’s husband is unknown, but in the 1880 census, Eliza says her father was born in South Carolina.
– Amos Sheppard, 20-30, is living with a female 20-30, and one male and one female under 5 and one male 5-9.
– Benjamin Sheppard, 30-40, is living with a female 30-40. In the household are one male under 5, one male 5-9, one female under 5, one female 5-9, and one female 10-14.
I do not know Amos or Benjamin’s relationship to Anne, if any, since they are all on separate pages in the census, but the fact they are all in the county this early suggests they are related.
1850 – Subdivision 33, Gilmer County
Family 511 – Anna Sheppard, 69, no occupation, born in South Carolina, is living with her daughter Ann Hickman, 32, born in South Carolina, Eliza A. Sheppard, 17, born in North Carolina, and Mary A. Hickman, 11, born in Georgia.
I include the following Sheppards in this census because they might be related. Note the North Carolina connection.
637 – Joseph Shepheard, 36, a farmer born in North Carolina with $1,200 in assets, is married to “Racheal,” 36, born in North Carolina. Their children are John S. 14, Thomas N. 12, Jane E. 10, James W. 7, Marvel W. 5, Harriet E. 3, all born in North Carolina, and Martha A. M., 4 months, born in Georgia.
1175 – Peter Shepheard, 30, a farmer born in South Carolina, is married to Elizabeth A., 24, born in South Carolina. Their children are Charles W. 5, Rossetta A. 3, and William A. 5, all born in Georgia.
1195 – Amos Shepheard, 40, a farmer born in South Carolina, is married to Anny, 37, born in Georgia. Their children are Elizabeth C. 13, born in North Carolina, and Alfred W. 11, William L. 9, Charles A. 7, Jeremiah 4, Memory 4 (M), Benjamin 2, and Thomas W. 6 months, all born in Georgia.
On the same page with Benjamin Sheppard, although 25 houses away, is Larkin Stephens, 50-59, with a female 50-59, and a male 10-14. Larkin Stephens was the second husband of Anna Sheppard’s daughter Anna Hickman.
Anna Sheppard has not been found in the census records after 1850.
1860 – Dug Road District, Pickens County, Georgia
Household 111 – Larkin Stephens, 63, a farmer born in South Carolina with $150 in personal wealth, is married to Anna (Stephens), 41. In the household is Mary Ann Hickman, 21. Note that Eliza Ann is gone, apparently already married to Allen Hall.
Household 112 – Wilburn or possibly William Shepherd, 26, born 1824, in North Carolina. He is married to Mary 26, born in Georgia, and their children are Nancy C. 6, and Sanders (?) A., 2.
I don’t know William Shepherd’s relationship to Anna Stephens, but he may well be a son or brother. Anna’s daughter Eliza Ann Sheppard was born in North Carolina about 1833.
1870 – Truck Wheel District, Pickens County
“Ann” Stephens, 51, is single head-of-household, perhaps a widow, with a child Cynthia L., 9, born 1861 in Georgia. Ann owns property worth $200 and has a personal wealth of $100. Anna can read and write. Larkin Stephens, who would be about 73, has apparently died.
Next door to Anna Stephens is:
James A. (Allen) Hall, 26, born in Tennessee, and his wife Eliza Ann (Sheppard) 36, born in North Carolina, along with Sarah Ann Hall, 14, who is probably James A. Hall’s sister. James is a farmer who owns no land, but has a personal wealth of $100.
On the other side of Ann Stephens’ household is:
Susannah Jordan, 79, a housekeeper born in Virginia, with $2,000 in real estate and $100 in personal wealth. She is living with her daughter, Lucinda Stearns, 34, born in North Carolina (widow of R. Gardner Stearns), and their children, Gardner Stearns 11, Sarah Stearns 8, both born in Georgia, Florida Stearns 8 born in Florida, and Georgia Stearns 6, born in Georgia. Susannah Jordan is the widow of the Rev. Robert Jordan, and the mother of Capt. Benjamin F. Jordan, commander of the Pickens County Home Guards (see the Scared Corn-Ryo murders).
1880 – Talking Rock District, Pickens County
Harrison Gipson 65, a farmer born in North Carolina, is married to Anna (Stephens), 61, born in South Carolina of parents born in South Carolina. In the household is a granddaughter, Cinthia, 18, born in Georgia of parents born in Georgia.
The Gipsons
1840 Gilmer County
– Harrison Gipson, 20-30, born 1810-1820, with a wife 20-30 and a son under 5 (William). His wife Rosanna would be 17, and William Asa 1. William Asa Gipson is the father of Anna Rosinda Gipson, who married Newton Jasper Hall.
– Edward Gipson, 60-70, with a wife 50-60 and a son 15-20.
– Miniard Gipson, 50-60 years old, with a wife 40-50, one boy under 5, two 5-10, two 10-15, a girl under 5 and one 5-10.
– Jacob Gipson is 30-40, with a wife 40-50, three boys under 5, one 10-14, and two 15-20, one female 5-9 and one 15-19. Jacob and “Eddy” Gipson were among the charter members of the Talking Rock Baptist Church, established October 1839. Robert Jordan was the first pastor!
– David Gipson 20-30. with a wife 20-30, three males under 5, and two females 5-9.
1850 – Subdivision 33, Gilmer County.
– Dwelling 439, family 439. Jacob Gipson, 26, farmer born in Georgia, with Cassa 26, Elijah 7, Elisha 5, and Josiah 2, all born in Georgia. Jacob is Minyard’s son.
– 444 444. Dyer Burch, 35, farmer with assets of $250, born in North Carolina, with Rebecca, 35, born in North Carolina, and Nancy M., 13, James E. 10, John T. 7, Rebecca C. 5, and Mary A. 1, all born in Georgia.
– 445 445 Jacob Gipson 49 born in North Carolina about 1801, with Edith (Mayfield) 52 born in South Carolina, Rebecca 19 and Alexander H. 17 born in North Carolina, Jacob M. 15, and Leander W. 9 (M) born in Georgia. Jacob is the brother of Minyard, etc. Jacob and “Eddy” were founding members of the Talking Rock Baptist Church, October 1839. Jacob is Minyard Gipson’s brother. Jacob and Edy were married 19 October 1822 in Burke County, North Carolina.
– 446 446. James C. Gipson, 26, farmer, born in North Carolina, with Nancy 16, born in North Carolina, and Mary A. 9, born in Georgia. James is Minyard’s son.
– 447 447. William Gipson 32, farmer born in North Carolina, with Rebecca, 29, born in North Carolina, James C. 8, Catherine 7, Richard H. 4, and Aaron 1 all born in Georgia. William is Minyard’s son.
– 448 448. Jonas Gipson, 23, farmer born in North Carolina, with Eliza 18, born in North Carolina, and Adolphus W. 2, and Sarah A. 5, both born in Georgia. Jonas is probably the elder Jacob Gipson’s son above (see the 1860 Gilmer census below). Curiously, Matt and Susan Hall named their last child Adolphus. Another son, Newton Jasper Hall, married Anna Rosinda Gipson, granddaughter of Harrison Gipson below.
– 449 449. Harrison Gipson, 33, farmer born in North Carolina, with Rosanna 29, born in North Carolina, William A. 12, Mary F. 9, Rachel C. 5, John D. 3, and Doctor R., 7, born in Georgia.
Harrison Gipson is Minyard Gipson’s son, and William A. is William Asa, father of Anna Rosinda Gipson. John D. Gipson married Elizabeth Talley (see 1880 census below).
– 451 451. Edward Gipson, 60, farmer born in North Carolina, with Catherine 55, born in North Carolina, and Jacob 23, born in North Carolina. Edward is Minyard Gipson’s brother.
– 667 667. Garland Gipson, 33, a farmer born in North Carolina, is married to Laborn Gipson, 25, born in North Carolina, and they have the following children: Jane 8, Margaret 6, Nathan 3, all born in North Carolina, and Polly 2, and William R., 10 months, born in Georgia.
– 993 993. Solomon Gipson, 54, farmer born in North Carolina, with Elizabeth 55, born in Tennessee, and Thomas 23, born in North Carolina. For more on Solomon, see below.
– 1054 1054. James L. Gipson, 22, farmer born in North Carolina, with Elizabeth 18, born in North Carolina, William D. 2, Sarah A. 1, both born in Georgia. James L. is Minyard Gipson’s son.
– 1055 1055. Doctor E. Gipson, 22, farmer born in North Carolina, with Elizabeth 20, born in North Carolina. Doctor is Minyard Gipson’s son. Since Doctor and James L. live so close to Solomon, it suggests Minyard and Solomon are related. Doctor E., or "D.E." as one website says he was called, was married to Elmina Crump, called Minnie or Minor. They are the same person.
1860 – Dug Road District, Gilmer County
– 144 112. Harrison Gipson, 45, born about 1815, is living with Lawcinday (no kidding) Gipson, 37, and Asa, 22 (William Asa, Anna Rosinda’s father), Mary F. 20, Rachel C. 17, John D. 12, Doctor R. 9, and Eda E., 5 (Eda Elizabeth, who married G. W. Hall).
– 151 117. Jonas Gipson, 34, a farmer born in North Carolina with $50 in personal assets, is married to Eliza A., born in North Carolina. Their children include: Adolphus 12, Leander A. 8, Sarah 10, Augustus 5, and Elender 4 (F). Also in the household is Richard Gipson, 21, born in Georgia, and Eda Gipson, 61, born in South Carolina. Note that Harrison, above, has a daughter named Eda.
This Eda is undoubtedly Eddy, the widow of Jacob Gipson above, which suggests that Jonas is her son. Jacob and Edy had a son named Leander, born about 1841, and in 1850 they are neighbors of Dyer Burch and family. In this census, they live three houses before that of the Burches.
Note also that Harrison lives two house before and Jonas and family live four houses after that of the Rev. Robert Jordan.
– 877, 867. Lawson E. Gipson, 29, a farmer born in North Carolina with no real estate and $25 in personal assets, is married to Avila, 20, born in Georgia. They have two children: John C. 2, and Syntha J. 1. Syntha might be the Cynthia that appears in Anna Sheppard’s household in 1870 and 1880, although that Cynthia is 9 and 18 in those censuses and is said to be the child of parents born in Georgia. Lawson is possibly Harrison Gipson’s brother, James Lawson Gipson, born about 1828 in Burke County, North Carolina. However, that would make Cynthia the niece of Harrison, and not his granddaughter.
1860 – Sharp Top District, Pickens County
– 653 560. Doctor Gipson, 30, a farm hand born in North Carolina with $10 in personal assets, is married to Minnie, 30, also born in North Carolina. Their children are Dugin 7 and John 3, both born in Georgia. Doctor is Minyard Gipson’s son.
– 654 561. Robert Bell Gipson, 25, is a farmer with $25 in personal assets. He is married to Mary and they were both born in North Carolina. Since the are neighbors and close in age, this census suggests that Doctor and Robert Bell Gipson are related, but I do not know who Robert is. There is no record that Minyard Gipson had a son with that name.
1870 – Pickens County census (no district is listed)
– Dwelling 539, family 539. Harrison Gipson, 57, a farm laborer born in North Carolina, is married to Rosey, 47. Their children include: Mary F. 30, Rachel 24, Robert 19, Elizabeth 14, Nancy E. 10 and James 5, all born in Georgia. Mary F. is assisting in the housekeeping, while Rachel and Elizabeth are “assisting on farm” and Robert is a farm laborer. Also in the household are Simpson Gipson, 62, and Catherine Gipson, 85, both born in North Carolina. Simpson is blind. No one in the household can read or write.
Elizabeth is Eda Elizabeth, who married G. W. Hall on 10 February 1883 in Gilmer County. Catherine is probably the widow of Edward Gipson, above.
Next door to them are his son:
– 540 540. John Gipson, 23, a farm laborer, his wife Mary, 25, and their children Lucinda 4 and Sarah 2. They are all born in Georgia.
– 610 610. William A. Gipson, 31, a farmer born in Georgia with real estate valued at $175 and personal wealth of $100, is married to Mary, 31, born in Georgia. Their children include Anna R. 8, Amos S. 3, and William H. 1, all born in Georgia. William A. Gipson is the son of Harrison Gipson above. His wife is Mary Hickman, and Anna R. is Anna Rosinda Gipson who married Newton Jasper Hall.
1880 – Talking Rock District, Pickens County
– Dwelling 143. Harrison Gipson, 65, is married to Anna (Sheppard), 61, and in the household is a granddaughter Cynthia Gipson, 18. Harrison and Anna are living next door to his son William Asa Gipson and his family. Harrison was born in North Carolina, but his parents states of birth are marked “unknown.” Anna is born in South Carolina of parents born in South Carolina and Cinthia is born in Georgia of parents born in Georgia. Harrison is not known to have had a granddaughter named Cinthia, but there is a Cynthia, 9, living with Anna in 1870. Since she was born in Georgia, she is either the daughter of an unknown son of Anna, or the illegitimate daughter of Mary Hickman or possibly some other unknown daughter.
– 144. William Asa Gipson, 41, a farmer born in Georgia of parents born in North Carolina, is living with Mary A. (Hickman), 40, born in Georgia of a father born place unknown and a mother born in South Carolina. In the household are Anna R., 16, Amos S. 13, William H. 10, David Alex 8, Marion H. 6, and Andrew A. 4. Anna R. is Anna Rosinda, who married Jasper Hall.
Boardtown District (GMD 907), Gilmer County
I don’t know if these Gipsons are related, but they are from North Carolina.
– 325 331. Jasper A. Gipson, 29, a laborer born in North Carolina of parents born in North Carolina, is married to “Meartha,” 28, born in Georgia of a father born in Tennessee and a mother born in North Carolina. In the household is Polly M. Gipson, Jasper’s mother, 60, born in North Carolina of parents born in North Carolina.
– 326 332. James F. Gipson, 27, a laborer born in North Carolina of parents born in North Carolina, is married to Sophia C., 27, born in Tennessee of parents born in North Carolina.
1880 – Town Creek District (GMD 1135), Gilmer County
– 117 117. John D. Gipson, 25, a farmer born in Georgia of parents born in North Carolina, is married to Mary A. (Talley), 40, born in Georgia of parents born in Georgia. Mary has encephalitis. Their children are Elizabeth A. 13, and Sarah M. 11. In the household is Mary’s mother, Elizabeth Talley, 80, born in Georgia of parents born in Georgia. John D. Gipson is the son of Harrison Gipson. Next door is:
– 118 118. Henry Harris, 37, a farm laborer born in Georgia of parents born in South Carolina, is married to Mary F. (Gipson), 34, born in Georgia of parents born in Georgia. They have two sons, Thomas J. 4 and John H. 2, both born in Georgia. In the household are Edy E. Gipson, 20, and Thomas W. Gipson, 14, both born in Georgia of parents born in Georgia. Mary, Edy (Elizabeth) and Thomas are the children of Harrison and Rosey Gipson. In 1910, Mary Harris is living with Anna Rosinda Hall in Gordon County. Eda Elizabeth married G. W. Hall in 1883 in Gilmer County. G. W. Hall is believed by several family members to be the brother of Newton Jasper Hall, who married Anna Rosinda Gipson, although there is no proof of that.
Boardtown District (GMD 907), Gilmer County
– 320 326. William Gipson, 36, a farmer born in North Carolina of parents born in North Carolina, is married to Altha, 31, also born in North Carolina of parents born in North Carolina. Their children include Irwin A. 10, Matilda A. 8, Harrison G. 6, Margaret M. 4, and Florida 8 months. William is probably the son of James L. Gipson above, although in the 1850 census he is only 2 and not 6. Ages in the census have been known to be off more than that, however. James L. is Minyard Gipson’s son and Harrison’s brother.
Ellijay District (GMD 850), Gilmer County
– 228 237. Elmina Gipson, 45, a housekeeper born in North Carolina of parents born in North Carolina, is living with her son, Francis M. 20, born in Georgia of parents born in North Carolina. Elmina, or "Minnie," is the widow of Doctor E. Gipson. Next door is:
– 229 238. William A. Gipson 24, a farmer born in Georgia of parents born in North Carolina, is married to Gilla Ann, 18, born in Georgia of parents born in North Carolina. They have one child, a son, James N., 1. In the household is William’s sister, Louisa J. 15, also born in Georgia.
Sources
U. S. Federal Census
Information on D. E. Gipson:
http://boards.ancestry.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=81&p=surnames.gipson
