Leonard Shackford was born Nov 12, 1825 in Allenstown, New Hampshire to Nathaniel Shackford and Abigail Bailey. He was the first child to his parents and the fourth great grandson of WILLIAM SHACKFORD (Nathaniel-6, Theodore-5, Theodore-4, John-3, Samuel-2, WILLIAM-1).
Leonard moved from New Hampshire to Cambridge, Massachusetts before 1850 and was working as a teamster upon his arrival. In 1855 he was working as an Omnibus Driver (horse railroad) and living in the home of Lydia Gove (his future mother in law) who was operating a boarding house. He became a conductor on before marrying Lydia on January 5, 1858 and must have had a great relationship with his fellow conductors who serenaded the newly married couple at midnight at their home at 20 Shepard Street.
SERENADE – The Conductors on the Union Railroad, on Thursday night, gave a serenade in honor of Mr. Leonard Shackford, one of their corps, who has recently committed matrimony. Like everything in which they have a hand, the thing was carried out in great shape. Mr. Stiles, the Superintendent of the road, placed a car at their disposal, and, with ten pieces of the Brigade Band, they reached Mr. Shackford’s house on Shepard street, about midnight. The music was worthy of the occasion, and so was the entertainment to which Mr. S. invited them. On their return they felt bound to report themselves to Mr. Stiles, and regaled him with a taste of the music. Nothing can be done better than by the Railroad folks-and we trust they may live a thousand years.
About thirteen years later (around March 1867), Leonard changed career fields to work as a Cambridge Police Office where he worked at Station One. He worked as a patrolman, a truant officer, and at City Hall. Leonard was included in this photograph of the police force in 1877 found by the Cambridge Historical Society. Beards and mustaches seem very popular amid this group of policemen
Leonard became seriously ill with stomach issues in early 1899 – but by Jul 1899 he became so ill that he was restricted to his home and took a family trip to Shirley Hill in New Hampshire with this family. He died at his home on Sept 2, 1899 of pancreatic cancer. One of many honorary obituaries is shared here: A second is shared below:
DEATH OF PATROLMAN SHACKFORD.
One of the Oldest Officers on the Police Force Dies of Stomach Trouble.
Leonard Shackford, for several years special officer at City hall, died at his home on Shepard street Thursday morning. He had been ill since last May, when he was compelled to give up his duties temporarily, but it was thought that he would be able to return to his work. He did improve, and was able to be out on the streets, but he suffered several relapses, and finally was obligated to keep to his bed. His sickness was due to stomach trouble and his death does not come as a very great surprise.
He was born in Pembroke, N. H., in 1830, attended the public schools there, and about 50 years ago came to this city and went to work in Boston. he was interested in several traded for a period of about ten years. When the horse railroad between Cambridge and Boston was started, he went on as a conductor. This occupation he followed for 13 years and then in March, 1867, was appointed patrolman on the Cambridge police force. He has been an officer of Station One during the entire term of his service. He was stationed at City hall about five years ago, and was constant in attendance to his duties there until his sickness in May. Mr Shackford has not been a well man for the last three years.
Mr Shackford has been a resident of this city for all of forty years, and during this time has lived at 20 Shepard street.
His wife was Lydia Gove, who with one daughter survives him.
Leonard’s wife Lydia was appointed administrix of his estate. She lived another twenty years and died at age 88 on January 2, 1900. Her wonderful obituary can be seen here:
CHILDREN
Louise K Shackford (1862-????)- keeper of boarding house
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SOURCES
1850 United States Federal Census, Middlesex, New Hampshire, population schedule, Cambridge, page 67 (penned), 34 (stamped), Dwelling 470, Family 529, Leonard Shackford; digital image, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 27 July 2013).
1855 Massachusetts Census, Middlesex, Cambridge, population schedule, Ward 2, Dwelling 563, Family 647, Leonard Shackford; digital images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 4 June 2013)
“Cambridge loses one of its old-time policemen,” Cambridge Chronicle (Cambridge, Massachusetts), 2 September 1899; digital images, Cambridge Public Library (http://cambridge.dlconsulting.com : accessed 27 July 2013).
Carter N. F., Rev, History of Pembroke, N. H. 1730-1895: In Two Volumes, Vol. II.-Genealogical (Concord, N. H.: Republican Press Association, 1895), page 295; digital images, Hathi Trust (http://babel.hathitrust.org/ : accessed 17 March 2016.
“CITY AFFAIRS. MAYOR AND ALDERMAN,” Cambridge Chronicle (Cambridge, Massachusetts), 26 January 1867; digital images, Cambridge Public Library (http://cambridge.dlconsulting.com : accessed 12 January 2014).
“CITY AFFAIRS. MAYOR AND ALDERMAN.,” Cambridge Chronicle (Cambridge, Massachusetts), 11 May 1867; digital images, Cambridge Public Library (http://cambridge.dlconsulting.com : accessed 12 January 2014).
Massachusetts, Massachusetts, Marriages, 1841-1915, , Leonard Shackford/Lydia Gove, 5 January
1858; digital images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 4 June 2013)
“DEATH OF PATROLMAN SHACKFORD, One of the Oldest Officers on the Police Force Dies of Stomach Trouble.,” Cambridge Tribune, 2 September 1899, Volume XXII, Number 27,; Cambridge Public Library (http://cambridge.dlconsulting.com : accessed 2 June 2013).
Degou David J, Cambridge Police Department (Arcadia Publishing, 1 April 2009), page 76; digital image, Google eBooks (http://books.google.com: accessed 28 July 2013
Find a Grave, Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 19 July 2018), Leonard Shackford, Find A Grave Memorial# 191155651.
“Leonard Shackford Quite Ill,” Cambridge Chronicle (Cambridge, Massachusetts), 22 July 1899; digital images, Cambridge Public Library (http://cambridge.dlconsulting.com : accessed 17 May 2017).
Massachusetts, , “,” Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Index, 1871-1909 (Part A-K) (www.ancestry.com: accessed 13 July 2014), Leonard Shackford.
“OLD CAMBRIDGE, Patrolman Shackford Gone,” Cambridge Chronicle (Cambridge, Massachusetts), 2 September 1899; digital images, Cambridge Public Library (http://cambridge.dlconsulting.com : accessed 27 July 2013).
Samuel Burnham Shackford to New England Historical and Genealogical Society Boston, Massachusetts, sg sga 5, 13 October 1925; (56) William Shackford, Shackford Genealogy Manuscript, #354 Leonard Shackford, Shackford collection. [manuscript], New England Historical and Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.
CHILDREN
Louise K Shackford (1862-1955)- keeper of boarding house
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SHACKFORD Family History 
Great family history story! How lucky you were to find those article’s to breathe more life into his story! 🙂
Sad that he died before his time, but you are fortunate to have that detailed obituary outlining so much of his life — which you have ably documented in this post.