Major-General William Shepard Monument

Westfield native Major-​General William Shepard crammed a lot of action into his 80 years of life. He fought in 22 battles and was one tough sonuvabitch.
He fought in King George’s War and the French and Indian War, He fought in Quebec, and served in the Revolutionary War, he defended Springfield during Shay’s Rebellion, he served in the War of 1812.
Why was he tough sonuvabitch? During the Revolution, he was shot in the neck by a cannon ball. He gained consciousness while the doctors were digging the ball out of his neck. He asked for a drink of water, and told the doctors to bandage him up so he could return to the fight. Now that’s what I call a tough guy!
When his military service ended, he turned to public service and became a state representative, senator, and councilor. He was elected to congress three times, and later in life served in town politics and was his church’s deacon for 24 years.
Westfield honors one of its most impressive native sons with a 1919 bronze statue on a town green at the intersection of Elm, Court, and Broad Streets.
Several inscription on the stone base read:
MAJOR GENERAL
WILLIAM SHEPARD
1737 – 1817
REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL COURT
STATE SENATOR
GOVERNOR’S COUNCILLOR
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTOR
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
U.S. COMMISSIONER TO THE SIX NATIONS
MODERATOR
XII YEARS SELECTMAN OF WESTFIELD
XXVII YEARS DEACON OF THE CHURCH
CHARTER TRUSTEE OF WESTFIELD ACADEMY
…
ERECTED BY
THE DESCENDANTS OF GENERAL SHEPARD
AND
THE PEOPLE OF WESTFIELD
1919.
…
CAPTAIN — FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS
1754 – 1763
MEMBER OF COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE
AND SAFETY
CONTINENTAL LINE
ENGAGED IN XXII BATTLES
1775 – 1783
COLONEL AND BRIGADIER GENERAL
MAYOR — GENERAL MASSACHUSETTS MILITIA
SUBDUING SHAY’S REBELLION
When he passed away. Someone wrote «No taint of meanness or dishonesty ever attached itself to him. He was distinguished for his good character and his unbending integrity.»