This person is dead.
This person is dead.
Last name per Carol's notes source.
This person is dead.
William Sheldon
1731 – 1816
Sheffield, Massachusetts – Clarence Hollow, New York16 February 2004
Dear Children,
The final Revolutionary soldier our family that I know anything about is William Sheldon. William was one of seven children of Benjamin and Abigail Kellogg (Yes, Kellogg cornflakes!) Sheldon. There is a birth record for him in the Springfield, Massachusetts church records of 16 July 1731, but it's believed he was actually born on the family's farm in nearby Sheffield, picturesque small town on the bank of the Housatonic River in the Berkshire Hills of southwestern Massachusetts. He married Hannah Noble on 28 June 1753 in Sheffield. He and Hannah had twelve children together, but it's probable that not all of them lived past chilhood as two were named Abigail and two were named Sarah. When two children in a family have the same name it usually means the older one died and the parents really liked the name so they used it again.
William was a Lieutenant in the Sheffield Militia in 1764 and also served in the Revolutionary War, though we don't know anything about how he served.
There are many records showing that William sold pieces of land in Sheffield after the war between 1783 and 1788. We think that he was in debt. One record shows he was forced to sell land. There is a record of a court ruling against him and the Sheffield Deputy Sheriff. They both had to go to jail until they could pay a 215 pound debt. (That's probably pounds like they use in England for money, not pounds of weight.) After he got out of jail he thought he might not have so many problems somewhere else, so he and his wife and, probably, some of his children packed up and moved to Clarence Hollow in Erie County, New York. He purchased land there in 1803 as Doctor William Sheldon. I wonder if he did much doctoring or if he just liked the title.
Do you remember hearing the name of Clarence Hollow before? That's where Ephraim Derrick moved to. And in a few generations one of Ephraim's descendants is going to marry one of William Sheldon's. But not yet.
William and his wife both died in Clarence, Hannah in 1810 and William in 1816.
Here's how you're related to this soldier: William and Hannah Sheldon had William Sheldon Junior. William Sheldon Junior had Lorinda Sheldon. Lorinda had Franklin H. Derrick. Franklin H. had Mary Lorinda Derrick. (You're never going to forget Mary, right?) Mary had Flora Lulu Balis. Flora had Harold Balis Stevens. Harold had Paul Robert Stevens. Paul married Granny and had Dawne Irene Stevens. Dawne married your Daddy and had...Sarah! Hannah! Timmy! and Becky!
So Hooray for William Sheldon!
Love,
Granny
Per Wayne Olson:
From Massachusetts Solders and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, pubby State of MA: Following entry for JASPER SAXTON:
Sergeant, Lieut. Jeremiah Hickok's co., Col John Ashley's regt.; entered service July 6, 1777; discharged July 27, 1777; service, 22 days; company marched to Kingsbury July 6, 1777, at request of Maj. Gen.Schuyler; roll sworn to in Berkshire Co.; also, Capt. John Spoor's co., Col. John Ashley's (Berkshire Co.) regt.; entered service Sept 19, 1777; discharged Oct. 19, 1777; service, 31 days; company marched to Stillwater; roll certified at Sheffield by Brig. Gen John Fellows; also, Capt Enoch Noble's co., Col John Ashley, Jr.'s (Berkshire Co.) regt.; engaged Oct. 15, 1780; discharged Oct 17, 1780; service 4 days; company marched to the Northward by order of Brig. Gen Fellows on an alarm at the time Forts George and Ann were taken by the enemy; roll sworn to at Sheffield.
From "Early Saxton Roots in America", by Velma Odeal Gehrke. Privateprinting:
Jasper grew up in Sheffield and about 1759 married Martha Keyser.They had 8 children. Additional details about their other children contained in ref.
Philander, one of Jasper's sons, also moved to Niagara County(Cambria area). He had 4 children before his wife Ellen died. She is buried at Lockport NY.
Jasper Saxton (of Sheffield) estate probated Jul 5, 1798 (Docket number1929 of Berkshire County Probate Court). Details include:
- widow Martha still living
- owned house and barn plus 134 acres
- Administered by William Baron, Silas Kellogg and Joel Kellogg
- John Saxton, administrator
- Announcement of meeting for inventory, signed by Martha Saxton, John Saxton, Athur Saxton, William Sheldon Jr, Philander Saxton, Nathaniel _____(?), and Phillip Eastman.
- Inventory valued at $194.46 ($935.89 minus debts)
- One third to widow.
- Money previously advanced to most of his children... heirs include
John Saxton
Asher Saxton
Diadema, wife of W. Sheldon
Philander
Lurina, late wife of Nathaniel Egliston (Egleton)
Daniel Saxton
Phebe, wife of Phillip Eastman
From Wayne Olsen
Birth source: LDS IGI - Ba: C502601 So: 185469 Pr: 0883790 (submitted by Ogden Temple)
Extensive discussion of SAXTON or SEXTON families in volume 4 of Savage's Dictionary of First Settlers in New England, also available on CD-ROM produced by United Ancestries. But this source does not list James as son of James... although there is an appropriate gap between births to allow his birth... perhaps omitted in record keeping because last name is spelled differently than parent.
Listed in LDS Ancestral File, AFN: 108F-F7B. Lists birth date as 9 Nov 1702 in Westfield, MA, plus marriage and death date. May be an extrageneration of James SAXTON than previously documented. This line in LDSAncestral File follows Abilena Gilbert's lineage, so no parentage of James Saxton (II) given.
From Saxton Family History in America, compiled by Charles M. Williams, 1928 (updated by Ruth E. Papka 1959): Moved from Westfield to Sheffield MA in 1743, where he died. His tombstone can still be seen in the village of Sheffield. Of 11 children, only 3 sons grew to manhood (James, Jasper,and Frederick). James and Jasper remained in Sheffield, and Frederick settled in Burlington, VT and afterwards at Shalbourne VT. Frederick and Jasper served in the Revolution.
From "The Descendants of Andrew Warner":
Lists death date as Oct 31, 1756 in Sheffield. Settled in Sheffield about 1743. Lists reference as C.E. Booth, One branch of the Booth Family, p. 40.
From "Genealogical Notes", manuscript by Louis Marinus Dewey regarding ancestors of Westfield, MA families, manuscript found in Westfield, MA library:
b. Nov 9, 1702 at Westfield, d. abt. 1786 at GREAT BARRINGTON, joined Westfield church, dismissed with wife and brother John to Sheffield Aug 2 or 18, 1744.
Only James, Jasper, and Frederick grew to manhood and left descendants.Another entry has he died at or near Sheffield and buried in "Bow-Wow Cemetery" near Sheffield village where his tombstone still stands, or did a few years ago.
From "Early Saxton Roots in America", by Velma Odeal Gehrke. Private printing:
He grew up in Westfield. Married Abilena Gilbert of Lebanon, CT. They had 11 children, the first 7 born in Westfield and the last four born at Sheffield, where they moved in 1742.
Dear Children
Tonight I'm going to tell you about one of your ancestors who lived during the colonial period in America, Elias Keyes. Elias was the eldest son of James and Hannah Divoll Keyes. He was born 18 September 1694 in Marlboro, Massachusetts, and died in May of 1768, in New Marlboro, Massachusetts.
He married Keziah Brigham on 13 Decenber, 1718, and they were among the 16 founders of the church in Shrewsbury, MA, a few miles southwest of Marlboro.
From Wikipedia:
“The Town of Shrewsbury, named for Shrewsbury, England, is a suburban community with an uneven and hilly terrain cut by a number of minor streams providing several small water power sites. Grants of land were made in what would eventually be the town beginning in 1664... Settlers came primarily frrom Sudbury and Marlborough... As a town, Shrewsbury was first settled in 1722 and officially incorporated in 1727. “In 1742 he moved his family to New Marlboro and joined the church there. New Marlboro is in the southwest corner of Massachusetts.
In the book History of New Marlboro, 1739-1975 there is a story about how the early settlers entertained themselves. It's referring to locations for dances. I quote it here:
“"In addition to these public places there were ballrooms in private houses... In the former Keyes house, near Umpachene Falls, practically the entire second floor was a ballroom, the house having been built so that the family lived chiefly on the first floor. Unusual features of this hall are two small rooms at one side to accommodate the little children of parents from outlying farms who had to bring their youngsters with them.
These halls of festivity are a mystery to strangers, who, having noticed how few and far between the rural houses are at present, ask quite naturally, 'Well, who from around here came to dance?' The answer is, of course, that when these houses were constructed in the 18th century, the local population was very much greater because of the many small farms. The Keyes house is a good example. When it was built, in1795, it was in the midst of a small community, with three mills nearby and numerous houses. Only the ruins of the mills remain, and four cellar holes show where stood as many houses, though of the others shown on old maps no traces remain.
All of the above mentioned ballrooms were of more or less the same size, making it comfortable for three or four sets of square dances. However, people had dance parties at their homes and since the country kitchen was often the largest room in the house, these gatherings were called 'kitchen dances.' “
The Keyes house mentioned above was built in 1795. Our Elias Keyes died in 1768, so it was probably a descendant's home. We don't know for sure.
In 1750 Elias built an iron works and forge on the south side of the river. Bar iron was forged from pig iron and ore brought from Salisbury, CT and the Corashire section of Monterey. Smelting the ore and refining the pig iron required sustained high temperatures, and this was accomplished by burning charcoal, the abundant production of which utilized the woodlands surrounding Mill River and afforded many farmers additional cash income. The furnaces were supplied with streams of air by blowers driven by the water power of the river. That power also drove the hammers which pounded the ingots into bars. Later the bars were used by New Marlborough blacksmiths. The forge existed there until 1836.
Our cousin, Wayne Olson, found a copy of Elias Keyes estate papers at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It indicates Elias died in early 1768. His will was probated 17 May 1768. Paul Keyes was appointed Executor and these heirs were listed:
wife Keziah
son Robert Keyes
son Chool (possibly Charles) Keyes
Daughter Mary Hollister
daughter Keziah Brookens (sp?)
daughter Martha Saxton
son Paul KeyesThe papers state that Zenas Keyes and Deliverance Keyes both died before their father. Paul was bequeathed the house in New Marlboro with the condition that he care for his mother. The will was witnessed by Thomas Strong, Elizabeth Strong, and Asa Sheldon.
That's all we know about Elias. He lived his entire life as a colonist in colonial Massachusetts. He was born in Marlboro, near Boston. He lived in Shrewsbury, where most of his children were born, and died in New Marlboro in the southwest corner of Massachusetts. He built an ironworks and a forge. His children and grandchildren did a lot of square dancing.
Here's how you are related to Elias Keyes. Elias married Keziah Brigham and had Martha. Martha married Jasper Saxton and had Diadama. Diadama married William Sheldon and had Lorinda. Lorinda married Rodolphus Derrick and had Franklin H. Derrick. Franklin married Harriet Boslow and had Mary Lorinda Derrick. Mary married John C. Balis and had Flora Balis. Flora married Edmund Stevens and had Harold Stevens. Harold married Helen White and had Paul Stevens. Paul married Dianne Zimmerman (that's me!) and had Dawne Stevens. Dawne married Jason Pamplin and had...Sarah, Hannah, Timmy and Becky!
So Hooray for Elias Keyes!
Love,
Granny
Served in Father Rasle's War. See Source Ne-Do-Ba for more info on this event.
Per Wayne Olsen:
From "A History of Deerfield", by George Sheldon: Benjamin was a soldier under Capt. Benjamin Wright in Father Rasle's war; settled at Suffield; soldier at the capture of Cape Breton; came home sick and died Aug 1752.
per Olsen: Abigail came from a long line of Kelloggs who made their living as weavers.