John Sheldon, an inhabitant of Providence, Rhode Island, was born in England, in 1630, died in 1708. He settled at Providence, where he was a tanner. He was deputy in 1702. He deeded his homestead, March 20, 1708, to his son Nehemiah on condition that he would maintain his father the remainder of his life. He married, in 1660, Joan Vincent, who died in 1708. Children:
- Timothy, born March 29, 1661, died 1744; married Sarah, daughter of Alexander and Jane (Holbrook) Balcom: children:
- Martha, born May 5, 1687;
- Timothy, March 1, 1689;
- Samuel, January 29, 1691;
- Mary, August 1, 1693.
- John, of further mention.
- Mary, died April 28, 1735; married, January 12, 1688, Stephen, son of Stephen and Sarah (Smith) Arnold; children:
- Stephen;
- Philip, born February 12, 1693;
- Edward;
- Phoebe, born March 5, 1695;
- Sarah;
- Penelope, born 1701;
- Savana, born 1703.
- Nicholas, died November 23, 1747; married Abbie Tillinghast, born March, 1674, daughter of Purden and Lydia (Taber) Tillinghast; children: Mary, Nicholas, Joseph, Abigail, Lydia.
- Nehemiah, born 1672, died 1754: married Rachel Mann, born April 15, 1679, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Wheaton) Mann; children:
- Abraham;
- Philip;
- Mary, married, December 18, 1721, William Rhodes;
- Rachel, born 1705, married, March 6, 1728, Pearnot Packer;
- Wealtherm, married, June 6, 1731, John Williams.
(II) John (2), son of John (1) and Joan (Vincent) Sheldon, was born in Rhode Island, died at Pawtucket, that colony, August 16, 1741. He was a tanner and cordwainer. He married and reared a family of eight children:
- Roger, married Mercy ————.
- John (3).
- William, of further mention.
- Edward.
- Patience, married ———— Thornton.
- Deliverance.
- Ezekiel, married Joanna ————.
- Sarah.
(III) William, son of John (2) Sheldon, was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, about 1710. He married Rebecca Rhodes, 1737. Children:
- Deliverance, born 1740, married Nathan Jillson.
- Robert, born 1741, married ———— Hill.
- Roger, born 1745, was of Cumberland, Rhode Island.
- William, born 1747, was of Cumberland, Rhode Island.
- Benjamin, born 1750, settled at Unadilla, New York.
- John, see forward.
- Rebecca, born 1754, married John Phillips.
- Susanna, married Nathan Jillson.
- Anna, married ———— Potter, of Cranston, Rhode Island.
- Mercy, married ———— Randall.
- Daughter, married Ezra Day.
(IV) John (3), son of William and Rebecca (Rhodes) Sheldon, was born in Rhode Island, 1752. He settled in the northern part of Adams, Berkshire county, Massachusetts. He married Abigail Phillips, a descendant of John of Duxbury, 1638. They both lived to a great age, and are buried in North Adams, Massachusetts. Children:
- Elizabeth;
- Nathan, of further mention;
- Naomi, married Anthony Sheldon, of Adams, Massachusetts;
- Amasa;
- Roby, married Dyer Eaton;
- Salome, married ———— Harrington;
- John,
- Hezekiah,
- Daniel,
- Abigail,
- Patience,
- Ann.
These cannot be given in the order of birth.
(V) Nathan, son of John (3) and Abigail (Phillips) Sheldon, was born in North Adams, Massachusetts, 1775, died January 29, 1862. He married Hannah ————, who died January 1, 1835, aged sixty years. Children: Lorenzo, see forward; Lucy, Electa and Mary.
(VI) Lorenzo, son of Nathan and Hannah Sheldon, was born at North Adams, Massachusetts, September 6, 1808, died there February 15, 1895. He married (first) Amarillis Wilbur, born in the same town, died at Adrian, Michigan. Married (second) Electa C. Parker, daughter of Oliver Parker, of North Adams, born March 20, 1821, died September 13, 1897. Children by first marriage: John and Mary. Children by second marriage:
- Charles Albert, see forward;
- Sylvia, died August, 1902;
- Iva;
- J. Warren;
- Lewis, drowned;
- John, born 1858, married Mollie Claybel, had son Frank E.;
- Mary M., unmarried.
(VII) Charles Albert, son of Lorenzo and Amarillis (Wilbur) Sheldon, was born October 29, 1842, at Adrian, Michigan, died December 29, 1881. He married Eliza Mary Dunham, born May 21, 1846, at Savoy, Massachusetts. Children:
- Charles, died in infancy.
- Fred Charles, see forward.
- Adelaide, married Frank Hartley Brown; children:
- Donald Sheldon, born August 24, 1904;
- Ramona Adelaide, born June 19, 1906;
- Margaret Elizabeth, born January 18, 1909.
- Gertrude Eliza, married Fred E. Clarkson.
(VIII) Fred Charles, only son of Charles Albert and Eliza Mary (Dunham) Sheldon, was born at North Adams, Massachusetts, June 27, 1871. He was educated in the public schools, and as soon as his education was finished he began work in a shoe factory, working his way up to the position of foreman of a department. He then formed a partnership with Edward Pratt and represented the firm, carrying a line of shoes made by the Pratt factory. In 1900 he removed to Granville, Washington county, New York, where he purchased a slate quarry and began the manufacture of roofing slate and other slate products. He faced almost insurmountable obstacles, but with courage and perseverance overcame them all and became the largest single producer in the entire district. His interests are now merged in a single corporation, the Sheldon Slate Company, of which he is president. He has other business interests of importance. He is a director of the Farmers' National Bank of Granville, New York, and in civil affairs trustee of the village corporation. He attends and supports the Episcopal church, and is a Republican in politics. He married, February 8, 1899, Bertha Genevra, born August 21, 1877, daughter of Leonard C. and Hannah Eliza (Rogers) Thorne.