Elisha Sheldon (abt. 1761 - 1841)

Born about 1761 in Bernardston, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 19 Jan 1841 at about age 80 in Orleans, Barre, New York, USA

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Biography

Elisha Sheldon was born in 1761 in Bernardston, Massachusetts to Amasa Sheldon and Sara Bardwell. He married Elizabeth Wells, his third cousin, daughter of Elisha Wells and Abigail Brook, on 27 Feb., 1786. Elizabeth's first husband, Joseph Simmons, d. before 1786.

In 1782 Elisha served in the American Revolution in the Continental Army under Capt. Ebenezer Smith, At Verplanck's Point, New York. In 1783 he served under Capt. Simon Jackson of Col. Henry Jackson's Continental Regiment.

Elisha and Elizabeth had two sons while living in Massachusetts, Diodorus, born 1786 (possibly son of Elizabeth's first husband), and Benjamin Sheldon, born 1792. The 1790 Census shows an Elisha Sheldon living in Bernardston, MA with 2 males under 16, 1 male over 16 and 3 females.

About 1794 they emigrated to New Hampshire, probably nearby Claremont, Chesire, NH, where seven children were born between 1794 and 1806. Sometime after 1806, they emigrated to New York, first to Ontario County, then to Orleans County.

"A History of Deerfield" by George Sheldon, states Elisha drowned in the Connecticut River in Vernon, Windham, Vermont in 1798. This information is incorrect. He, in fact, lived another 43 years, per Pine Hill Cemetery Records.^[1] and land and census records.

The August 7, 1820 census shows an Elisha Sheldon living in Ontario County, New York.

1- Male - 10 thru 15 (Amasa b. 1804)

1 - Males - 45 and over (Elisha b. 1761)

1 - Female - 10 thru 15 (Miranda b. 1806)

2 - Females - 16 thru 25 (Betsy b. 1795, Experience b. 1802)

1 - Female - 45 and over (Elizabeth Wells)

On January 30, 1822, Elisha received title to 85 acres of land in Orleans County. Neighbors included Isaac Hoag, Joseph Hoag, and William Wilson^[2].

The 1830 census shows Elisha and his family living in Barre, Orleans, New York. Wife Elizabeth presumably had died, since a female of her age is not living in the household. 1 - Male - 20 thru 29 (son Amasa) 1 - Male - 60 thru 69 (Elisha Sheldon) 2 - Females - 20 thru 29 (daughter Experience & Amasa's wife Nancy Stewart?)

The 1840 census shows Elisha, a military veteran, living alone, age 78. He lived next to daughter, Miranda Sheldon McNeal (separated or divorced from Silas McNeal), and son, Amasa Sheldon.

He died on January 19, 1841, in Orleans County, New York, having lived a long life of 80 years, and was buried in Pine Hill Cemetary, Barre, Orleans, NY^[3]

Revolutionary War

"Shelldon, Elish.\. Private, Capt. James Walsworth's co., Col. Elisha Porter's

(Hampshire Co.) regt.; enlisted July 22, 1779; discharged Aug. 27, 1779; ser- vice, 1 mo. 11 days, at New London, Conn., including 6 days (120 miles) travel home. Roll sworn to at Deerfield. "^[4]

1839 Property Transaction

This document probably refers to Elisha Sheldon, Sr., and not his son, Elisha Wells Sheldon, who lived in Cayuga, NY in 1839.

Type of Manuscript Deed

Location(s) Barre, New York; New York;

Year 1839

Contains the following Names: Amasa Sheldon, Nancy Sheldon, Thomas Palmer, Jonathan Palmer, Elisha Sheldon, Eseperance (Experience) Sheldon.

Comments: This is a property deed from 1839 which describes the sale of a piece of land in Barre, New York, for the sum of four thousand six hundred and fifty five dollars. The property contains one hundred thirty three acres! This document is in excellent condition, and includes wax seals where the signers have pressed their thumbprints.^[5]

Children

Elisha and Elizabeth had 11 children:^[6]

• F Diodorus Sheldon 1786–1812 (possibly son of Elizabeth's first husband, Joseph Simmons)
• two unknown daughters born 1786-1792^[7]
• Lydia Sheldon Patrick 1794–1852
• Benjamin F Sheldon, Reverend 1794–1856
• Elizabeth "Betsy" Sheldon Trowbridge 1795–1831
• Harriet Sheldon 1798–
• Elisha Wells Sheldon, Judge 1800–1891
• Experience Sheldon 1802–1880 (never married)
• Amasa Sheldon 1804–1872
• Miranda Sheldon McNeal, Needham 1806–1890

Religion

"History of the Town of Bernardston, Franklin County, Massachusetts". 1736 - 1900. by Lucy Cutler Kellogg states that Elisha Sheldon was a Dorrellite.

Note: DORRELLITES, the followers of Dorrel, a sectary, who appeared at Leyden in Massachusetts in 1797, and pretended to be a prophet, sent to supersede the dispensation of Jesus Christ, and claimed divine worship in his stead. It appears, from an account of his tenets, which was taken down from his own mouth, by the Rev. John Taylor of Deerfield, that he denied the foreknowledge of God, and his almighty power. "Jesus Christ," said he, "is to substance a spirit, and is God. He took a body, died, and never rose from the dead. None of the human race will ever rise from their graves. The resurrection spoken of in scripture, is only one from sin to spiritual life, which consists in perfect obedience to God. Written revelation is a type of the substance of the true revelation, which God makes to those whom he raises from spiritual death. The substance is God revealed in the soul; those who have it are perfect, are incapable of sinning, and have nothing to do with the Bible." Dorrel denied future judgment; and asserted, that neither prayer nor any other worship is necessary.

Sources

• 1790 United States Federal Census
• 1820 United States Federal Census
• 1830 United States Federal Census
• 1840 United States Federal Census
• American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI), Gen. Column of the " Boston Transcript". 1906-1941.( The greatest single source of material for gen. Data for the N.E. area and for the period 1600-1800. Completely indexed in the Index.): 5 Jul 1922, Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 1999.Original data - Godfrey Memorial Library. American Genealogical-Biographical Index. Middletown, CT, USA: Godfrey Memorial Library.Original data: Godfrey Memorial Library.
• Find a grave, https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=SHEL&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=36&GScntry=4&GSsr=761&GRid=79125263&
• "History of the Town of Bernardston, Franklin County, Massachusetts". 1736 - 1900. by Lucy Cutler Kellogg. Greenfield, Mass, Press of E. A. Hall & Co., 1902, p. 490. </i>Settled in Barre, N.Y.
• "History of Deerfield, Massachusetts" by A George Sheldon, 1895-1896 (2 Vol.) Published by E. A. Hall & Co., Greenfield, MA, 1896. p. 297.
• Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, Includes bibliographical references and indexes.|||[Pt. I.] Landmarks of Orleans County -- Pt. II. Biographical -- Pt. III. Family sketches. Online publication - Provo, UT: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005.Original data - Landmarks of Orleans County, New York. Syracuse, N.Y.: D. Mason & Co., 1894.Original data: Landmarks of Orleans County, New York. Syracuse, N.Y.: D. Mason & Co., 1894.
• Massachusetts, Town Vital Collections, 1620-1988, Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data - Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook).
• Native Soil Manuscripts Index, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999..
• New York, Death Newspaper Extracts, 1801-1890 (Barber Collection), Ancestry.com, 2005, Provo, Utah.
• U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1700s-Current, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=79125263&ref=acom
• Western New York Land Transactions, 1804-1824, Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006.Original data - Livsey, Karen E. Western New York Land Transactions, 1804-1824. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1991.
• Western New York Land Transactions, 1825-1835, Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data - Livsey, Karen E. Western New York Land Transactions, 1825-1835. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1996.

1. ↑ Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=SHEL&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=36&GScntry=4&GSsr=761&GRid=79125263&
2. ↑ Source: Landmarks of Orleans County, p. 301
3. ↑ Source: #S2023
4. ↑ Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, Vol. 14, p. 109. https://archive.org/stream/massachusettssolssthmass#page/108/mode/2up
5. ↑ Native Soil Manuscript Index, Doc. # 0754
6. ↑ The Sheldon magazine: or, A genealogical list of the Sheldons in America, with biographical and historical notes, and notices of other families with which this intermarried. № 1-4, by Carew Sheldon, p. 31
7. ↑ The Sheldon magazine: or, A genealogical list of the Sheldons in America, with biographical and historical notes, and notices of other families with which this intermarried. № 1-4, by Carew Sheldon, p. 31