Ralph and Thankslord (Perkins) Shepard and their two-year-old daughter Sarah, landed on the shores of New England in 1635 on the ship Abigail. Upon their arrival in New England, the Shepards initially settled in Watertown. Over the next fifteen years, Ralph and Thankslorde's life was marked by mobility and land transactions. They moved several times, purchasing and selling land in various locations, including Dedham in 1637, Weymouth in 1639, Malden by 1650, and eventually settling in Concord by 1666. Notably, both Ralph and Thankslorde possessed the ability to sign their names. This skill was relatively rare during that period, especially for a woman, and indicates a level of literacy that was not common among the general population.