Shepherd, Thomas, an English Congregational clergyman, son of Rev. William Shepherd (who was first a minister in the Established Church, but later became an Independent), was born in 1665. After his graduation at the university he took orders in the Established Church, but in 1694 he became a Congregationalist. From 1694 to 1700 he was pastor of the Independent Church in Nottingham, of which Dr. Philip Doddridge was later the more famous pastor. From 1700 till his death, January 29, 1739, he was pastor of a Church in Braintree, Essex.