Honora Sheppard
Introduction
Honora Sheppard was a notorious counterfeiter in the 1830s-1850s. She was born sometime between the years 1815 to 1820. Honora was arrested three times for counterfeiting or forgery, escaped prison twice, received one pardon, and left an extraordinary legacy as a woman counterfeiter. Sheppard's first arrest was in 1843 then she escaped prison, only to be recaptured all in the same year. She was sentenced to Sing-Sing for 8 years and 3 months until she was pardoned by Judge Edmonds in 1845 because of philanthropists believing in her redemption. Honora was re-arrested in 1848 and escaped prison once again in 1849. Her last recorded arrest was in 1858 and the results of this arrest are uncertain.
Honora’s name changed by marriage; she was originally O’Brien and then she married twice – once to Sheppard and then to Lane. She also went by many aliases, such as Ann Forrest, Hannah Shepherd. The Western Literary Messenger Volume 10 described Honora as "the most talented, sagacious, scheming, and dangerous female counterfeiter in the country.”Honora was born to a family of forgers; several of her brothers and sisters served time in prison as well. Sheppard was a strong woman who used people's perceptions of womanhood to her advantage. The story of her escapades is laid out in the timeline below.
Honora Sheppard in the Diary
Honora Sheppard is mentioned twice in the diary. Hopper points to her story as one of a redeemed woman. We learn later that Sheppard duped her benefactors, including Hopper, into believing that she had changed her ways.
Volume 2, pg. 54 of the Diary:
9mo: (Sep) 15th 1847
Honora Sheppard, see Register page 38, went under the patronage of Georgianna Bruce, to Alton in Illinois and there commenced Dress making in which she succeeded very well, by her kind correct demeanor and diligence in her business, [she] obtained the confidence and respect of those among whom [she] dwelt. Georgianna in a letter to me dated “Illinois may the [illeg.] 1847,” speaking of Honora, who was the bearer, says. “It is now more than two years since we arrived at the place of our destination in the west, and during the whole of that time [illeg.] say in truth that I never knew of conduct more praise worthy. While diligently employed in sewing, in order to obtain a livelihood, she has been very often the patient watcher beside the sick bed of the poor. The past season has been [illeg.] unhealthy throughout the coast – fever and ague more than [usually] prevalent, and I know not how many persons have said to me ‘What an angel of mercy Mrs Sheppard is, she seems to forget [her]self intirely.” Honora has a mother in this city in poor health and a young sister who needs her care – she has also other [connections] for whom she feels a deep interest. In the hope that she could be useful to some of these [induced] her to leave Illinois. She has hired two rooms in a house Mott Street and has taken in her mother who is unwell. [Honora] expects to earn a livelihood by dress making I Have given her 75 cents and become accountable for five dollars 25 cents for a [illeg.] necessary articles for her accommodation in house keeping.”
This redemption story continues in Volume 2, pg. 76.
1 mo: (Jan) 18th 1848
Paid G W Dawson for sundry articles for housekeeping for Honora Sheppard five dollars 38 cents. $5.38”
False Redemption
This is a short description of Honora Sheppard's life in the Boston Evening on January 28, 1848 after claimed rehabilitation. In the article, Honora is described as a notorious counterfeiter and further elaborates on her criminal background. It describes her behavior before Sing Sing with Mrs. Farnham (who is described in the Diary) which emphasizes her false redemption. According to the article, Honora's pardon was under false pretenses. The article reports that Honora told the Sheriff she would act poorly. We learn that Honora told the Sheriff "see how I will work it! I'll be the very devil for the first three weeks. and then I'll let Mrs. Farnham convert me! I'll be as meek and quiet as a lamb; I'll make her think me angel . . . " This shows that Honora had planned all along to pretend to be a broken women that could be fixed. Her plan tricked multiple philanthropists and members of society including matron of Sing Sing, Eliza Farnham, Margaret Fuller, Judge Edmonds, Georgiana Bruce and our very own Isaac Hopper. Overall, this article expands on Honora's criminal life and gives insight on the individual she truly was until her eventual arrest in 1848.
Possible Homicide Attempt on Honora Sheppard
On February 8, 1858, The New York Tribune, published as New York Daily Tribune, reported that Mrs. Ellen Sheppard and her husband attempted to harm a Honora O'Brien. It is safe to assume that this is our Honora since her maiden name was O’Brien and she was married to Sheppard. It’s possible that Ellen Sheppard and her husband were either Honora’s ex-husband and another wife or Honora’s former in-laws.
Finding Honora At The End of Her Life
In this document, the possible location of Honora Lane or more commonly known as Honora Sheppard is identified in June, 1880.
The document cites her location as Danvers Hospital in the County of Essex, Massachusetts. The description of Honora aligns with the knowledge on Honora that is accessible.
It describes Honora Lane as sixty seven years old, her birth place as Ireland, and a patient of the hospital.
All of these identifiers are possible since her last known whereabouts were in a Brooklyn Police Court in 1858.
Conclusion
Honora Sheppard tells a unique tale because she negates the stereotypes of 1840s criminals. A woman deceived the entire Prison system and thrived on a life of crime. Honora used her womanhood to evade incarceration.
An example of this is in January 19, 1843 when she escaped prison disguised as man. She cleverly used the idea that a woman would not be clever enough to escape from arrest. In another instance, in January 29th, 1848, Honora was arrested for counterfeiting but before she was identified police, a Dr. Dupuy was trying to chase her down for giving a counterfeit bill. Honora convinced a man she was in harms way and an Officer Donnally who protected her unknowing of the crime she committed and only knowing she was a woman against a man. She used the officer's perception of woman holding a weaker position compared to men to evade being caught even if it was just for a second. Lastly, in her final recorded arrest in 1858, she claimed her husband controlled her into committing the crime. This facade maintained the idea that a women was vulnerable to the control of a man when in this case Honora had been a life-long criminal with no coercion necessary to commit a crime. Honora used officers, judges, and society's expectations of women to avoid the prison time she deserved.