Notes A birth registration was found for Emma Mary Shepperd: Year of Registration: 1895; Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec; District: Portsea Island (1837-1900); County: Hampshire; Volume: 2b; Page: 449. (Parents: Harry Henry Shepperd and Annie Mary Clarke who married 1888 in Portsea, Hampshire, England.)
In 1901, Emm Shepperd, 5 years of age, was shown residing at 123 Charlotte Street, Portsea, Hampshire, England. Other family members included: Alfred Shepperd, 8; Ann Shepperd, 30; Ann Shepperd, 11; Frank Shepperd, 7; George Shepperd, 21, assistant dealer; George Shepperd, 57, dealer in general books & ct.(?); Harry Shepperd, 54, general labourer; Nelly Shepperd, 3; and N. K. Shepperd, 2 days. (Source: 1901 Census of England; Class: RG13; Piece: 994; Folio: 41; Page: 28.)
According to Barnardo records, Ellen Lucy and Emma May Shepperd were admitted to Dr. Barnardo's on December 8, 1906. It is recorded that Ellen was born on December 14, 1897 at Portsmouth; and Emma on November 17, 1895, also at Portsmouth and both the girls had been baptized.
The mother, Annie Mary Shepperd, aged 38, had been married to the father, Henry Shepperd, but sadly he had died from apoplexy on 26th May 1905 at Portsmouth.
The father had been married before and by his former wife had had 11 children. By his second marriage, with Emma and Ellen's mother, he had had 10 children (only 8 were named in Barnardo's records). He had been a dealer in second hand articles especially in boots and shoes which he repaired and sold.
When Ellen and Emma were admitted to Barnardo's they went to Salmon Lane in the East End of London and then came to Barnardo's Girls Village Home at Barkingside. In 1911, Emma Sheppard, 15 (along with her sister, Ellen Sheppard, 13) arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, with a group of 116 girls en route to Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Emma was sent to a Mr. Paige in Vineland, Ontario, and then to a Mrs. Donaldson in Peterborough. Emma wrote home saying she was very happy that home and had learned to milk.
On November 5, 1924, at the Presbyterian Church in Thornbury, Grey, Ontario, Canada, a marriage was registered between Emma May Shepperd, 28, housekeeper, born in England to Harry Shepperd and Annie Clarke; and William Andrew Weber, 48, farmer, born in Artemesia, Grey, Ontario, Canada, to John Weber and Isabella C. Graham. A witness to the marriage was Nellie Shepperd.
Her nephew, Bruce Shepperd, recalled that she had farmed at Artemesia Township, in Grey County, Ontario, Canada. She and William Weber had two children, Isabella and Patrick.
Emma May Shepperd Weber died in 1969.