Pioneer Families - SHELDON
Extracted From
Chapter XVII
Early history of the town of Hopkinton :
history of East Village (Nicholville) and vicinity,
diaries of Elisha Risdon and Artemas Kent,
soldiers of the Civil War,
genealogical record of sixty of the pioneer families

Carlton E. Sanford
Boston: Bartlett Press, 1903

[Transcribed by Dave Swerdfeger]

IN this chapter is given the genealogical records of many of the pioneers of the town, of all that I have been able to gather sufficient data and information to make a fairly full record. The preparation of these records has required much time, labor, correspondence, persistence and patience. Had I had in the beginning a full comprehension of the tedious labor required, I now feel sure I should not have undertaken it. That there are some errors in dates and possibly a few in names I am quite satisfied, since considerable of my information came from elderly people who wrote feebly and indistinctly. I think it will be readily understood, if the reader will bear in mind that it is in continuous order; that the first, second, third and fourth generations are each carried slightly to the right, and that each generation always has the same indentation. ABRAHAM SHELDON b. in Pawlet, Vt.; d. in 1810 in Vermont from the kick of a horse; m. Clarissa Armstrong, b. 1782, Pawlet, Vt.; d. October 6, 1868. They first came to East Stockholm in 1800 or possibly 1801. There is a faint story that they went there to cook for Ebenezer Hulburd. Dr. Hough says they came to Hopkinton in March, 1803, with Roswell Hopkins, Eli and Ashbel Squire, and all with their families. He may have joined Mr. Hopkins and party as they came along or it may be that he went back to Vermont in the fall of 1802 and came in with them from there. Mrs. Amanda Sheldon, widow of Deacon John, says that Mrs. Sheldon told her that "one if not two of her children were born in Stockholm." Her first child was Manilla. It has been impossible to learn the date of her birth with certainty. The "Sheldon record," gathered in about 1845, gives the year only and as 1802, and that of Hiram as 1804. Had five children: Manilla, b. 1802; d. September 26, 1878, Kalamazoo, Mich.; m. Rufus M. Crossman of Burlington, Vt.; d. there in 1853. They were married February 23, 1825, in Hopkinton by Rev. Hiram S. Johnson. It is claimed that she was the first child born in the town of Stockholm. Had four children: Henry B., d. January 22, 1832, aged seven years. Cornelius M., 1. December 17, 1830, aged two years. Newton Hopkins, born January 21, 1826; d. March 10, 1890, Peru, Vt.; m. Harriett S. Danforth, October 27, 1856; d. July 5, 1886. Had four children: R. Mason, b. September 16, 1857; d. August 7, 1864. Fred R., b. December 29, 1860; 1. Peru, Vt.; m. Ina E. Turner. Charles N., b. February 14, 1865; 1. Manchester, Vt.; m. Gertrude Taylor. Had two children: Hazel T. and Marion T. Edward H., b. November 29, 1866; 1. Peru, Vt.; m. Sarah Tifft. Had two children: Homer D. and Ruth H. Marion M., b. July 25, 1830; 1. Kalamazoo, Mich.; m. J. H. Bostwick, December 1, 1847; 1. Kalamazoo, Mich. Had seven children: Emma M., b. October 24, 1848; m. Mortimer Cahill; 1. Chicago. Marion A., b. May 17, 1850; m. H. M. Sidman; 1. Chicago. Carlos G., b. April 17, 1852; m. Mary A. Perkey; 1. Detroit, Mich. Frederick C., b. May 27, 1854. Henrietta S., b. September 10, 1855; m. Henry Deming; 1. Chicago. William H., b. June 30, 1859; d. June 27, 1893. Matilda S., b. January 23, 1861; m. Frank J. Lewis, Kalamazoo, Mich. Hiram, b. in 1803 or 1804; d. April 15, 1820. Dr. Hough states that he was the first child born in town and that he was born in December, 1803. The "Sheldon record" gives the year as 1804. It is morally certain that he was the first male child born in Hopkinton, save possibly some Indian boy. John, b. February 7, 1806; d. January 6, 1882; m. Sally Chittenden, b. in 1805; d. April 16, 1847; m. 2d, Amanda Kelsey, b. October 15, 1819; 1. old homestead. Had nine children by first marriage and one by second. Susan, b. 1830, d. October 27, 1850. Mary, b. 1831; d. October 14, 1850. Carrie, b. 1833; d. May 25, 1881. Son, died in infancy. Adelia, b. March 24, 1835; m. D. W. Chittenden; 1. Fayette, Iowa. Amelia, b. March 24, 1835; 1. Fayette, Iowa. Sarah, b. 1839; m. Edward Mathews. Ann, b. 18---—. Eugenie, b. 1847; d. June 1, 1895. John L. (by second marriage), b. 1858; 1. Pittsburg, Pa. Julia, b. May 27, 1808; d. May (?), 1880. (See Clark S. Chittenden record.) Hannah, b. June I, 1810; d. March 18, 1896; m. Jabez F. Fuller, June 17, 1841; b. May 14, 1814; 1. Sanford Corners, N.Y. Had four children: Clark S., b. August 10, 1842; m. Ella Morse; 1. La Fayette, Ind. Enlisted in Co. A, 94th Regiment, and served through the war, was in thirteen battles, taken prisoner twice and served nine months in Andersonville Prison. Had four children: Clara B., b. February 7, 1869. Charles C., b. March 22, 1870. v Orville M., b. April 12, 1872. Ella M., b. October 17, 1879; d. May 23, 1886. Charles W., b. April 27, 1844; 1. West Stockholm; m. Mary C. Baker, January 12, 1870; b. June 27, 1845. Had one child: Carrie A., b. November 30, 1875; 1. Le Ray, N.Y.; m. Clinton Case. Mary N., b. July 25, 1847; 1. Sanford Corners, N.Y.; m. L. N. Herrick. Had three children: Lulu V., b. April 27, 1874. Everette, b. October 24, 1881. Roy, b. November 30, 1883. Adaline. M., b. October 3, 1849; 1. Sanford Corners; m. Reuben A. Spohn, b. February 17, 1850. Had two children: Stanley, b. July 7, 1875; 1. Ilion, N.Y.; m. Julia Allen. No issue. Will, b. August 24, 1877; 1. Sanford Corners; m. Agnes L. Jabas. Had two children: Bonnylin E., b. June 1, 1898. Leslie J., b. December 14, 1899. GAIUS SHELDON b. May 20, 1781, Rupert, Vt.; d. February 1, 1863 ; m. Thankful Upham, January 5, 1803; b. 1783; d. February 9, 1842; m. 2d, Anna S. Griggs, who went to Iowa, where she died. He came from Pomfort, Vt., in the fall of 1803 and settled on what is known as the Philo A. Davis farm, a mile north of George S. Wright's. Had six children: Amos Curtis, b. February 24, 1805; d. February 13, 1890; m. Polly Daggett of Stockholm, b. 1802; d. February 3, 1860; m. 2d, Mrs. Mary Blanchard, July 6, 1860; b. April 5, 1819. Had five children by first and. one by second marriage: Homan, b. 1831; d. April 17, 1883; m. Jennie Squire; 1. Nicholville. Henry, 1. San Jose, Cal. Elmina (Mrs. Charles Loucks), 1. Hermon, N.Y. Julia, b. 1839; d. September 8, 1858; m. Frank Davis of Fort Jackson. Harmon, b. 1842; d. August 22, 1863, in war. Bertie, b. September 18, 1864; drowned July 11, 1869. Alfred, b. April 21, 1807; d. July 3, 1874; m. Arvilla Riggs, June 16, 1832; b. May 17, 1809; d. December 9, 1877. Had six children: George W. , b. May 22, 1833; m. Martha Merrill, July 7, 1852; m. 2d, Emeline Huntley, July 9, 1854. Had five children: John, 1. Boston. Mary, 1. Wooster, Vt.; m. Fred Sands; m. 2d, Frank Jones. Augusta, d. Silva, 1. Buckton, N.Y.; m. Henry Holmes. Had one child: Ira. Mina (Mrs. Shonyo). Charlotte, b. March 9, 1835; d. February 11, 1880; m. John Y. Merrill, January 3, 1853. Had eight children: Mary, b. March 9, 1855; d. October 6, 1882; m. John Crowley, September 20, 1877. Had two children: George, b. March 16, 1879. Fred, b. July 5, 1880. Alfred, b. March 27, 1857; d. January 4, 1862. Abbie E., b. May 27, 1859; 1. Buckton, N.Y.; m. Elmer E. Holmes, March 24, 1880; b. April 14, 1871. Had three children: Jessie M., b. March 14, 1882. Bertha M., b. July 28, 1884. Blanch D., b. November 11, 1893. Matilda, b. April 3, 1861; 1. Bangor, N.Y.; m. Leslie Steenberge, February 22, 1884. Had one child: Earl, b. November 29, 1886. Julia M . , b. October 6, 1863; d. September 21, 1891; m. Azro M. Wilson, September 17, 1879. Had two children: Grace, b. July 12, 1880. Lottie, b. November 20, 1885. Delia E., b. December 11, 1865; d. September 23, 1892; m. Earl Wendell, September 15, 1888. No issue. Grant U., b. January 9, 1867; 1. Colorado. Robert E., b. July 28, 1870; m. Sarah Corbin, May 15, 1892. Had two children: Beatrice H., b. November 19, 1894. Elmer G., b. September i5, 1896. Alfred, b. April 30, 1839; d. May 1, 1839. Ozias, b. April 30, 1839; d. May 1, 1839. Esther, b. January 7, 1841; 1. Buckton, N.Y.; m. C. E. Reed, May 15, 1859; b. June 6, 1829; d. Had two children: Florence A., b. October 30, 1862; 1. Fort Jackson; m. Jonah Knapp, August 12, 1880; b. February 14, 1852. Had two children: Olon J., b. May 24, 1881. Roy E., b. May 10, 1889. Mary L., b. June 1, 1870; 1. W. Stockholm; m. Will Dewey, November 27, 1886. Had four children: Earl, b. September 10, 1888. Ray, b. October 4, 1892. Mearl, b. January 2, 1894. Floyd, b. June 17, 1897. Julia, b. November 9, 1844; 1. Buckton; m. William Martin, July 4, 1861. Had one child: Alice, b. May 5, 1862; 1. Buckton; m. Loren Wolcott, September 23, 1882. Had two children: Carrie, b. May 19, 1883. Earl W., b. November 29, 1887. Asa U., b. May 27, 1809; d. April 1, 1875; m. Adaline Cross, 1832; d. 1835; m. 2d, Sarah D. Billings, December 2, 1835; b. 1816; d. July 4, 1892. Had five children: Spencer, b. March 10, 1838. Sarah Adaline, b. August 23, 1839; 1. Potsdam; m. Rev. Franklin C. Millington, April 13, 1865; d. December 27, 1887, Denver. Had two children: Francis W., b. May 17, 1866; 1. Wayland, N.Y.; m. Elizabeth E. Ersfeldt, December 27, 1900. Sarah W., b. June 4, 1872; d. March 24, 1898, in New York City; m. Samuel B. Davis, June 28, 1892. Had one child: Cedric B., b. June 13, 1894. King A., b. April 21, 1845; 1. Fort Jackson; m. Cleora M. Hudson, April 21, 1866; d. February, 1880; m. 2d, Hannah Cotter. Had one child by first and five by second marriage: Jay, Nellie C., d. aged ten; Ray, King, Annabel and Mary. Emma L., 1. Hopkinton; m. George Woodward, d. 1898. Had three children: George, Roy and Gail. Wright, b. February 6, 1855; 1. Hopkinton; m. Jennie E. Conlin, October 20, 1885; b. October 20, 1865; d. December 15, 1887; m. 2d, Martha Larone, October 23, 1888; b. August 14, 1864. Had five children: Babe, b. August 28, 1886; d. soon after. Son, b. January 25, 1890; d. soon after. Henry Asa, b. February 23, 1891. Ruth Alma, b. January 25, 1893. Burnard I., b. June 17, 1895. Maria, b. November 12, 1811; d. June 25, 1893, in Stockholm; m. John Riggs, July 17, 1853. No issue. Lucina, b. September 1, 1814; d. May 10, 1852; m. John Riggs, May 18, 1835; d. November 21, 1884. Had four children: Adaline M., b. September 28, 1836; d. April 22, 1859; m. Burrel Adams, May 1, 1856; d. August 1, 1897. Had one child: Demis L., b. June 25, 1857; 1. Kendrick, Ida.; m. Johnson Poole, December 3, 1874; d. July 6, 1896. Had four children: Alice E., b. August 1, 1876; 1. Chesley, Ida.; m. Fred B. Smoots, March 24, 1894. Had five children: Claude B., b. March 30, 1896. Gladys G., b. November 9, 1897. Jessie C., b. August 18, 1899. Ruby M., b. March 1, 1901; d. March 25, 1901. Ethel M., b. May 10, 1902 Milo R., b. April 5, 1879; d. September 25, 1900. Nellie M., b. February 6, 1881. Walter F., b. September 2, 1886. Louisa T., b. September 11, 1842; 1. West Stockholm; m. Daniel R. Freeman, April 10, 1860; m. 2d, Louis Besaw, November 12, 1896. Had two children: Charles E., b. July 12, 1861; 1. Breckinridge, Minn.; m. Tena Christenson, September 12, 1886. Had four children: Georgia D., b. December 8, 1887; d. March 26, 1889. June, b. January 26, 1890. Marvel R., b. January 6, 1899. Lucina, b. February 17, 1900. Henry J., b. April 15, 1866; 1. Fond du Lac, Wis.; m. Lizzie Carberry, September 25, 1886. Had two children: Edward C., b. July 15, 1887. Harry, b. August 15, 1891. Philo, b. May 21, 1847; 1. Buckton; m. Loretta A. Palmer, March 31, 1868; b. August 20, 1848. Had three children: Burt F., b. September 11, 1870; d. February 20, 1899; m. Edith S. Castle, December 24, 1889. Had two children: Raymond E., b. March 14, 1894. Beulah B., b. January 4, 1897. Leslie E., b. February 6, 1874; 1. Buckton; m. Etta May Preston, September 7, 1896. Had two children: Rupert V., b. September 1, 1897. Ralph, b. April 16, 1900. Etta A., b. December 30, 1879; 1. Buckton; m. Joseph A. Wells, February 6, 1901. No issue. Lucina, b. May 4, 1852; 1. West Stockholm; m. Horace A. Moulton, September 22, 1875. Had one child: Ernest A., b. December 18, 1879. Louisa L., b. May 31, 1818; d. October 5, 1842; m. Elijah Ober of Stockholm. No issue. OLIVER SHELDON b. 1779, Rupert, Vt.; d. April 9, 1817; m. Sarah Gilbert, 1803; b. 1777; d. November 16, 1840. He was the eldest of a family of nine children, and settled in town at least as early as July, 1804, when his account with Mr. Hopkins opened. He sprained his ankle which resulted in the amputation of his leg. (See diaries of Messrs. Risdon and Kent for an account of same.) He secured a large and fine tract on the south side of the road east of Hopkinton village. Gains and Heman, who settled in Hopkinton, were his brothers. Had seven children: Alta, b. September 21, 1804, Hopkinton; d. August 23, 1890, Richmond Centre, Wis. (first female child born in town); m. John Henderson, January 21, 1834. (See his record.) Albert, b. January 1, 1806; d. August 29, 1887; m. Rosamund Grandy, March 3, 1828; b. December 27, 1808; d. January 14, 1865; m. 2d, Julia Russell, October 10, 1866; b. May 17, 1804; d. March 20, 1878. Had one child by first marriage: James A., b. February 18, 1830; dentist, Winthrop, N.Y.; m. Clara E. Rice, b. March 7, 1828; d. August 23, 1870; m. 2d, Mary Crowley, b. September 6, 1845; d. November 6, 1886; m. 3d, Anna L. Gray, b. February 23, 1865; d. August 28, 1892; m. 4th, Mary E. Northrup, b. July 5, 1865. Had three children by first and two by second marriage: Ruth Rosamund, b. April 22, 1855; d. March 20, 1858. William Augustus, b. January 11, 1858; d. February 25, 1858. Helen M., b. October 24, 1860. (See Clark A. Warner.) Albert H., b. October 20, 1871; 1. Buffalo, N.Y.; m. Veva V. Vale, September 18, 1893; b. October 12, 1873. Had one child: Ralph V., b. March 1, 1898. Emma R., b. April 8, 1873; 1. Buffalo, N.Y. Philo G., b. September 4, 1807; d. June 12, 1897, at Winsted, Conn.; m. Matilda Westlake, August 18, 1835; b. January 1, 1817; d. April 10, 1892. No issue. Hiram B., b. May 7, 1809; d. June 24, 1884; m. Alzina Hamilton, March 23, 1836; b. September 13, 1812; d. April 3, 1837; m. 2d, Betsy Blanchard, b. April 14, 1819; d. September 8, 1885. Had five children by second marriage: Alzina, b. July 23, 1838; m. Charles E. Meacham. Had seven children: Janette A., b. October 24, 1858; 1. Winsted, Ct. Hattie M., b. April 5, 1860; 1. Hopkinton. Emma E., b. November 28, 1862; m. Wilber G. Manchester; 1. Winsted. Had two children: Gladys and Mary. Charles 0., b. November 8, 1864; m. Kittie Henderson; 1. Hopkinton. Had one child: Mildred. Daisy M., b. September 25, 1867; m. John E. Abercrombie, December 31, 1892, Winsted, Ct. No issue. Martha B., b. December 10, 1871; d. March 6, 1872. Earl S., b. May 23, 1877; 1. Hopkinton. Elizabeth, b. October 17, 1839; 1. Winsted, Conn.; m. Thomas Doughty, April 28, 1857. Had five children: John G., b. November 10, 1857; m. Eleanor Thomas, February 16, 1898. Had one child: Margaret, b. November 24, 1898. Carrie Matilda, b. July 31, 1860. Alice Phebe, b. January 15, 1863; m. Joseph Sanford, August 2, 1891. Sophia Ann, b. November 1, 1865. Emily Elizabeth, b. February 16, 1869. Emily, b. November 18, 1841; 1. Winsted, Conn. Oliver J., b. July 28, 1844. Was a soldier, Co. I, 106th Regiment, and died in Danville Prison, January 1, 1863. King T. Sheldon, b. December 20, 1846; 1. West Winsted, Conn.; m. Martha B. Smith. Had one child: Miles Hiram, b. September 10, 1884. Mary, b. August 5, 1811; d. August 4, 1838; m. Foster Shaw, January 25, 1831; b. November 24, 1805; d. January 29, 1844. Had four children: Sally L., b. November 20, 1831; d. March 31, 1859; m. William A. Clark, d. May 18, 1896. Had one child: Myron B., b. February 11, 1854; d. December 11, 1892; m. Ida E. Roberts, February 22, 1875; b. December 29, 1854. Had three children: Leslie W., b. April 28, 1878; d. May 18, 1879. Minnie E., b. August 8, 1880; d. August 31, 1880. Leo N., b. June 20, 1892. John W., b. March 1, 1833; d. September 17, 1889, Aliens Falls, N.Y.; m. Lucy A. Tichenor, b. December 5, 1831; 1. Aliens Falls, N.Y. Had four children: Estella J., b. March 16, 1859; d. April 18, 1861. Gilbert W., b. May 10, 1862; 1. Woodstock, Vt.; m. Anna Wilcox, March 19, 1888; b. March 28, 1858. No issue. Clara A., b. June 29, 1868; d. February 8, 1869. Rosa B., b. May 16, 1870; 1. Parishville. Philo G., b. April 5, 1834; d. December 26, 1860. Oliver, b. March 17, 1838; d. December 12, 1838. James Oliver, b. 1814; d. 1817. Olive Jane; b. January 17, 1816; d. April 3, 1843; m. William H. Wakefield, b. April 5, 1810; d. April 15, 1890, Colton, N.Y. He m. 2d, Mary C. Blanchard, July 23, 1843; b. August 22, 1820. Had one child by each marriage: Oliver J., b. February 21, 1843, Lawrenceville, N.Y.; 1. Wahpeton, N.D.; m. Maria E. Cline, November 6, 1870; b. August 31, 1847. Had one child: Herbert Wellington, b. November 7, 1880. Olive Jane, b. January 6, 1852; d. February 19, 1890; m. William N. James, September, 1868, Colton, N.Y.; b. January 6, 1852. Had four children: William Oliver, Herbert, Theron and Mary.     INDEX