Author: Geoffrey A. Thompson
Shearod Thompson was born 1757 in Cumberland County, Virginia. He may have been the eldest born child of William Thompson, Sr. and Sarah. William was born before 1734 and died in May or June 1794.

Shearod met and fell in love with miss Charlotte Land. They married about 1790 in York or Chester District, South Carolina. She was the daughter of Captain John Land and Mary Sumter. Their children from this union:

1. Jesse W. Thompson, born about 1791 in York District, South Carolina, married Permelia McGuire on 13 January 1820, died between 1854 and 1860 in Thomas County, Georgia.

2. Caroline Thompson, born about 1800 in York District, South Carolina, married James Bailey on 14 November 1819, died between 1860 and 1870 in Jackson County, Georgia.

3. Green L. Thompson, born between 1803 and 1807 in York District, South Carolina, married Lucinda Bailey on 15 April 1830, died after 1860.

4. William Sherod Thompson, born 23 September 1804 in York District, South Carolina, married Eliza Shelton Bailey on 8 February 1827, died 24 July 1886 in Jackson County, Georgia.

5. Lewis D. Thompson, born between 1810 and 1820 in Georgia, married Mourning Bailey on 31 August 1839, died between 1844 and 1845.

Shearod Thompson's name is found on the Henry County, Virginia tax lists for 1779-1783. The last two years were for possession of a horse. In addition to serving in the Virginia militia during the Revolutionary War, he was a dispatch rider for the Continentals in what was then Pittsylvania County, Virginia. The mail post was an important branch of the service at Peytonsburg, Virginia. Dispatch riders would arrive with important mail and it was the duty of the post commandant to forward the same without delay, and in order to do this it was necessary to keep at the post a number of express riders.

Shearod first entered the service of the United States as a drafted militia man in Pittsylvania County, Virginia under Captain John Coleman and Lieutenant Jesse Douglass. The regiment to which he was attached was Commanded by Colonel Scott and the Army was Commanded by Major General Nathaniel Greene. They marched from Halifax in Virginia to some point on the Dan River where General Lord Charles Cornwallis, Military Commander of the Southern forces, was stationed. When General Cornwallis fled, he was pursued by General Greene and his army to Guilford Court House in North Carolina where a bloody action took place. Shortly after the battle, General Greene's army was reinforced and they again pursued Cornwallis as far as Cross Creek in North Carolina where Shearod was discharged.

On or about the tenth day of April in the year of our Lord 1781, Shearod again joined the service at Henry court house in the state of Virginia under Captain Swinfield Hill. He marched under the command of Major Waller through Henry, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Charlotte Counties at which latter county the men joined Colonel William Calloway and the Bedford men. Together they marched under the command of Colonel Calloway through Mecklenburg and Amelia counties and others to intercept the Tories and prevent them from joining General Cornwallis. They were stationed at different points, and marched up and down as ordered. About five months after the commencement of this campaign they were ordered on to Little York to join General George Washington. They marched through Petersburg and crossed the James River and joined General Washington at Little York. The men fought under the command of Colonel's Richardson and Randolph in the battle until the British surrendered on October 17th, 1781. In total, Shearod served 18 months in the Virginia militia and 9 months as a private in the Continental Army. After his discharge, he returned home to Henry County in Virginia where he resided two or three years.

About 1784, Shearod removed to York County in the state of South Carolina where he resided nearly twenty-two years. His name is found frequently in the minute books of the county as a witness, juror, plaintiff and sometimes defendant. He purchased 202 acres of land on Fishing Creek before 1793; this property was formerly owned by John McWhorter. As was the custom at that time, Shearod waited before starting a family. Shearod married Charlotte Land when he was 33 years old and he was about 34 years old when his first son Jesse was born. He was the owner of a sizable plantation and at least three slaves. The 1790 Census record shows that he was the owner of one slave, and in 1800, three slaves. It is difficult to comprehend; however, a deed dated 1805 demonstrates that Shearod must have incurred serious legal difficulties. His real estate was seized in his demesne and sold according to the Custom of Vendues. The plantation was purchased by Ann Biggers for twenty dollars even though the estate was appraised at $803.45! Ann Biggers immediately sold the property for $500. Shearod removed to Jefferson, Jackson county, Georgia about 1804.

Shearod resided on a large plantation on the Oconee River, 3 miles east of Jefferson, Georgia. He lived there for thirty-nine years and until his death. He and his wife raised one daughter and four sons in Jefferson. Interestingly, three of his sons and his only daughter married offspring of Ralph and Elizabeth Dowdy Bailey. The only son that did not marry a Bailey, Jesse W. Thompson, married Permelia McGuire. Permelia was the daughter of long-time family friends who also came from Cumberland and Henry Counties in Virginia. Charlotte, his wife of at least 34 years passed between 1824 and 1830. She is probably buried in the family cemetery on their homestead next to his grave. Shearod filed his will in September 1843, received his last pension payment on 3 September 1843 and died on 23 September 1843. An inventory of his estate was recorded in 1845, and appraised at over $8000. He was the owner of 20 slaves at the time of his death. He was 86 years old.

Shearod's grave is marked by a monument issued by the Quartermaster Branch of the War Department in 1930. It was ordered and received by Mrs. C. E. Bailey of Jefferson, Georgia. The monument was placed on what was then Mr. Lenton Isbell's farm. Today, his monument lies ignominiously in a field of tall grass a few yards from 2 large chicken houses. Shearod leaves many descendants; approximately 1300 family members and relations, both in Jefferson, Georgia and throughout the United States.

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