G2G: **Subject:** Seeking Help to Verify Parentage of Phoebe Mastin Shepherd (b. 1770 Wilkes County, NC)

Question

Hello everyone,

I’m researching **Phoebe Mastin Shepherd**, born about 1770 in Wilkes County, NC. There’s a lot of conflicting information about her ancestry, and I’m hoping to get some help or guidance.

Some online trees (including WikiTree) list her as **Phoebe Nations**, daughter of Abraham and Rebecca Nations of Virginia, based largely on a misinterpretation of the word “executrix” in her husband John Shepherd Jr.’s probate records, which was mistakenly read as “Essentrino.” This led to speculation she was born a Nations and later changed her surname to Mastin, which doesn’t fit historical naming patterns since she married a Shepherd.

**What seems more plausible:**

* Her maiden name was probably **Mastin**, supported by burial records in Deep Ford Cemetery (Wilkes County) and the presence of Mastin families in that area during the late 1700s.

* Potential connections to **Rev. Capt. Thomas Mastin (1749–1828)** and his father **John Mastin (abt. 1720–abt. 1780)** who lived locally and had children named Phoebe.

However, I have not found any **primary records definitively naming her parents**.

If anyone has access to Wilkes County land, probate, or church records, or any other sources that might clarify Phoebe’s parentage, I would greatly appreciate your help.

Here’s the link to her profile: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Nations-831

Thank you! 

Answer 1

I think this is what you're looking for: It's a 1828 will for Thomas Mastin's -- in a note at the end he mentions daughter Phebe Shepherd and two other daughters.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S7WF-33X9-P9?view=fullText&keywords=Thomas%20Mastin%2CMastin%2CThomas%2CNorth%20Carolina%2CWilkes&lang=en&groupId=

The full-text search on family search is pretty incredible. For anyone who hasn't tried it out, here's a link to full-text search:https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/full-text

You can also access it through the sourcer extension:https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:WikiTree_Sourcer