"My father's name was William Shepard, borne in a little poore towne in Northamptonshire called Fossecut neare Towcester, & being a prentice to on[e] Mr. Bland a groser he marryed on[e] of his daughters, ... My father was a wise and prudent man, ... & toward his latter end much blessed of God in his estate & in his soule. For there being no good ministry in the town, he was resolved to goe & live at Banbury in Oxfordshire, under a stirring ministry having bought a house there for that end. ... & my father lived & marryed a second wife ... and died when I was about 10 yeares of age."
