Hmmmm.....I scrutinized the DC and see what you mean. Perhaps it was only my wishful thinking that was seeing James.
....!! The first letter is very much like the S in Shepherd. However he does not always take his J's below the line....note his signature on the bottom of the page!!I'm wondering if you've any idea where Jane(t) McCredie got to? I've lost her and her daughter and her husband and her mother Henrietta all after the 1861 census. It would be extremely beneficial to find Henrietta's death (and be certain we have the correct Henrietta) to see who are stated as her parents. There is no doubt whatsoever that Henrietta and Jane were sisters.
Best wishes
Jean