Isaac Sheldon

1629 - 1708  (79 years)

• Name	Isaac Sheldon
  Birth	1629	Ashford, Bakewell, Derby, England   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Death	27 Jul 1708	Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA   [1]
  Person ID	I4544	Master
  Last Modified	2 May 2017

  
  

  Father	Ralph Sheldon,   b. 1605, Ashford, Bakewell, Derby, England d. 1651, Ashton, Derbyshire, England (Age 46 years)
  Mother	Barbara Stone,   b. 1609, Ashford, Bakewell, Derby, England d. 1651, Ashford, Bakewell, Derby, England (Age 42 years)
  Marriage	27 Apr 1629	Bakewell, Ashford, Derbyshire, England
  Family ID	F1378	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary Woodford,   b. 24 Jan 1636, Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA d. 17 Apr 1684, Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA (Age 48 years)
  Marriage	1653	Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
  Children	+ 1. Isaac Sheldon,   b. 4 Sep 1656, Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA d. 29 Mar 1712, Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA (Age 55 years)
  Family ID	F1375	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 1629 - Ashford, Bakewell, Derby, England Marriage - 1653 - Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA Death - 27 Jul 1708 - Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  DNA testing is showing that Isaac was not the son of Ralph Sheldon and Barbara Stone from Derbyshire. He is related to the Sheldons of Devon, England. - Sue Sheldon Added: Mar. 2, 2017 Above note from findagrave. Isaac, born in England, was in Dorchester, MA by 1634. By 1640, he was at Windsor, CT, and he m. Mary WOODFORD, dau of Thomas WOODFORD of Hartford, CT, in 1653. In 1656, the couple removed with Mary's father to Northampton, MA. There were 12 children living at the time of his death. The only record of Isaac in England was in his grandfather's will, in which he received L8, much less than the others, so it is presumed that he had already received his legacy to cross to America, perhaps to find out what happened to his father. The year before he m., he and Samuel Rockwell were given permission by the Selectmen of Windsor to live together in Isaac'shome, as long as they didn't have wild parties. This house was on a three acre lot which also included a barn and orchard. Isaac purchased this land from John Stiles, plus another lot from Rockwell and a meadow lot from Richard Sam, and a second house from Thomas Parsons. One year after their marriage, the couple sold out to Rockwell and moved to Northampton, then in the northern wilderness. He was one of the first settlers. At Northampton, they owned farm land in Manhan Meadow, and a home lot of four acres. When Eleazer Mather, the first preacher, settled at Northampton, 163 1/2 acres was given to him to give to people who came to settle. Both Isaac and his father-in-law, Thomas WOODFORD, gave six acres toward this land. In 1656, Isaac was chosen to be a Selectman. On 18 JUN 1661, Isaac, Mary, and Thomas all signed the Church Covenant. On this record, Isaac contributed to Harvard College by giving nine pounds of flax worth nine shillings. In MAR 1678, Isaac was appointed one of the first Tythingmen in Northampton. On 27 FEB 1681, he was appointed to stake out highways , and on 7 MAR 1698, he was appointed overseer of the poor. (Source: "Origin of the Families Named Sheldon", (Source: "Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England", Vol. 4, p. 69). A-2 and A-3; NEHGR, # 80 (1926 ISAAC SHELDON Windsor & Northampton ISAAC SHELDON is the original immigrant to America of our line of Sheldons coming from England. We have no proof from whence in England he originated, though the lineage developed by T. Gardner Bartlett, presented in 1926, seems possible. See The Sheldons of Derbyshire, England. The history of our branch of the family — from which the Sheldons in Suffield, Connecticut are descended — begins with Isaac Sheldon, who was born about 1629. For a long time it was supposed that this same Isaac Sheldon was the man who seems to have been in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1634, and that he removed to Windsor, Connecticut in 1634/1635 with part of the congregation of the Rev. John Warham as one of the original settlers of Windsor. On the original town records is a date that makes it appear Isaac was there on 10 January 1640, and owned at that time some few acres of land. This has caused no small amount of controversy, and it is likely we will never know the real answer. In 1651 or 1652, Isaac Sheldon (at about 22 years of age) bought of John Stiles a home lot of three acres with Dwelling House, barn and orchard, at the very least, possibly other land, including a meadow lot, at Windsor, Connecticut. At a meeting of Windsor’s Selectmen on 13 September 1652, an order was passed giving permission for Isaac Sheldon to share his home with Samuel Rockwell: "It is asented yt Isack Shelden and Samuell Rockwell shall keepe house together in ye house yt is Isackes, so [long] thay cary themselves soberly and doe not intertayne Idel persones to ye evell Expenc of time by night or daye" (Windsor, Connecticut, Town Acts, 1650-1714, fo. 11). MARRIAGE His bachelor life didn't last long, for in 1653, Isaac married MARY WOODFORD at Hartford, Connecticut. She was born in 1636 at Windsor or Hartford, the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Blott) Woodford of Hartford, Connecticut and Northampton, Mass. In 1654, Isaac sold his place in Windsor to Samuel Rockwell, and removed to Northampton, Mass. where he was one of the first Settlers. He owned farm land in "Manhan Meadow," and a home lot of four acres. He was a Selectman in 1656 and a leading man in town affairs. In 1660 he was assigned a home lot on Bridge Street, which was handed down from father to son at least to 1896. When the Rev. Eleazar Mather settled in Northampton as pastor of the church, 163-1/2 acres of land were placed at his disposal, to be given by him to such persons as came to Northampton to settle through his influence. Isaac Sheldon got six acres and his father-in-law, Thomas Woodford, six acres. Isaac and his wife, together with Thomas Woodford, signed the church covenant on 18 June 1661. It is on record that Isaac contributed to Harvard College 9 pounds of flax, valued 9s. There were many contributors in Northampton, each one giving what he could. In March 1678, Isaac was appointed one of the first Tithingmen in Northampton, whose duty it was to have charge of the morals of the community. On 27 Feb 1681, he was appointed to a committee to stake out highways. Mary Woodford Sheldon died 17 April 1684 at Northampton, Mass. After Mary's death, Isaac remarried in 1686, Mehitabel (Gunn) Ensign at Northampton. She was the daughter of Thomas Gunn, born in Windsor, Conn. on 28 July 1644. She had first married David Ensign on 22 October 1663, but divorced him in October of 1682 "because of his misconduct". She had five children by Ensign. The last civil appointment we have for Isaac Sheldon was as overseer of the poor, on 7 Mar 1698. Isaac Sheldon died 27 July 1708 (at age 78 years) and is buried at the Bridge Street Cemetery, Northampton, Massachusetts. . Since his will is signed with his mark, we also know that he was unschooled. Mehitable (Gunn Ensign) Sheldon died 30 Jan 1720/21 also at Northampton. The records show that Isaac had 14 children and 115 grandchildren. In view of this good beginning, the numerical strength of this branch of the family through all generations is not surprising. CHILDREN by MARY WOODFORD All but the first born at Northampton Mary, born 1654 at Windsor, Conn. She married John Bridgeman on 11 Dec 1670 at Northampton, Mass., and died 1728 in Mass. Isaac, born 4 September 1656. He married 25 Nov 1685, Sarah Warner, and succeeded to the old homestead at Northampton. Isaac died 29 March 1712 in Northampton, Mass. Captain John, born 8 Dec 1658; died 1733 at Hartford, Conn. He married [1] Hannah Stebbins on 5 Nov 1679; and [2] Elizabeth (-) Pratt, on 20 April 1708. Thomas Sheldon, born 6 Aug 1661. He married 1685, Mary Hinsdale. Thomas died 7 June 1725 at Northampton, Mass. Ruth (twin) Sheldon, born 27 August 1663. She married [1] Joseph Wright on 6 Nov 1679; and [2] Samuel Strong on 27 Oct 1698 at Northampton, Mass. Thankful (twin) Sheldon, born 27 Aug 1663. She married 23 Feb 1681, Benjamin Edwards. Died 1741, Mass. Mindwell Sheldon, born 24 February 1666. She married [1] John Pomeroy on 30 April 1684; and [2] John Lyman on 19 April 1687. Mindwell died 8 April 1735 at Northampton, Mass. JOSEPH SHELDON, born 1 Feb 1668; died in Boston, Mass., 1708. He married Mary Whiting and resided in Suffield, Conn. Hannah Sheldon, born 29 June 1670. She married Samuel Chapin on 24 Dec 1690, and resided in Springfield Mass. Eleazer Sheldon, born 4 Aug 1672; died 13 Dec 1673 at Northampton, Mass. Samuel Sheldon, born 9 November 1675; died 1745 at Boston, Mass. He married by 26 Jan 1700, Mary Warner and resided in New Marlborough, Mass. Ebenezer Sheldon, born 1 March 1678; died 1755, Mass. He married Mary Hunt on 16 Dec 1701 at Northampton, Mass. Mercy Sheldon, born 4 Feb 1682; died 24 February 1682. CHILD by MEHITABEL GUNN ENSIGN Jonathan Sheldon, born 29 May 1687. He married Mary Southwell on 30 Dec 1708 and resided in Northampton Mass. and Suffield Conn. PRIMARY RESOURCES Sheldon. History of Deerfield (pg. 292). Northampton, Mass., Registry of Probate, Probate Records, Book 3 (pg. 188). Will of Isaac Sheldon. www.geocities.com/joannsaemann/ Official Website of the Burch, Nickel, Sheldon, Griffin, Saema The earliest record is Isaac becoming a freeman in Dorchester, Mass. By 1640 he is in Windsor, Ct. where in 1653 he married Mary Woodford who was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Woodford of Hartford. In 1655 they removed to Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusettes. Isaac per depostion he gave in 1879, he was born abt. 1829 in Ashford, Parish of Bakewell Co. Derby, England. Families from Debyshire settled in Concord, CT, between 1640 and 1650. Before 13 Sep 1652, Isaac bought from John Stiles, a house and a 3 acre in Windsor, CT. In 1656 he moved to Northampton, MA. His will is dated 21 Jun 1708 and proved on 1 Sep 1708. Named in his will are, his wife, Meritable, sons Isaac, John, Thomas, Joseph, Samuel, Ebeenezer, and Jonathan. Daughter's named are Mary Bridgeman, Ruth Strong, Thankful Edwards, Mindwell Lyman, and Hannah Chapin. Source: English Origins of New England Families, Second Series Vol. III, Pg. 202 and Hampshire Probate Records, Vol. 3, Pg. 188

  
  

• Sources

  [S340] Findagrave.com, (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi: accessed 16 July 2011.) (Reliability: 3). Birth: 1630, England Death: Jul 29, 1708 Northampton Hampshire County Massachusetts, USA His first wife was Mary Woodford Sheldon. His second wife was Mehitable Gunn Ensign Sheldon, widow of David Ensign and daughter of Thomas Gunn of Dorchester, Windsor, and Westfield. He was possibly the son of Ralph Sheldon and Barbara Stone Sheldon of Ashton, Co.Derbyshire, England. However, the monument in Bridge Street Cemetery says Isaac Sheldon was from Co.Essex. Children(by first marriage): Mary Sheldon Bridgeman, Isaac Sheldon Jr(husband of Sarah Warner Sheldon), John Sheldon, Thomas Sheldon, Ruth Sheldon Wright Strong, Thankful Sheldon Edwards, Mindwell Sheldon Pomeroy Lyman, Joseph Sheldon, Hannah Sheldon Chapin Terry, Ebenezer Sheldon, Samuel Sheldon, Ebenezer Sheldon, and Mercy Sheldon. Children(by second marriage): Jonathan Sheldon. Parents: Ralph Sheldon (1605 - 1651) Barbara Stone Sheldon (1609 - 1651) Spouses: Mary Woodford Sheldon (1636 - 1684)* Mehitabel Gunn Sheldon (1644 - 1720)* Children: John Sheldon (1658 - 1733)* Thomas Sheldon (1661 - 1725)* Ruth Sheldon Strong (1663 - 1728)* Thankful Sheldon Edwards (1663 - 1741)* Mindwell Sheldon Lyman (1665 - 1735)* Hannah Sheldon (1670 - 1742)* Eleazar Sheldon (1672 - 1672)* Ebenezer Sheldon (1678 - 1755)* Jonathan Sheldon (1687 - 1769)* Burial: Bridge Street Cemetery Northampton Hampshire County Massachusetts, USA Created by: Janice Buchanan Record added: Sep 26, 2000 Find A Grave Memorial# 5066897 https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5066897&ref=acom