Person:John Sheldon (1)

"3. John (Sheldon), s. of Isaac (1), b. 1658; 'Landlord;' came to Dfd. at the permanent sett, and at once took a leading part in the affairs of the plantation; was on the first board of selectmen; ensign in first military company; capt. 1707; dea. in the chh.; he was the builder of the historic 'Old Indian House,' whose scarred and battered door is a center of interest in Memorial Hall. This house he was occupying at the desolation of the town, Feb. 29, 1704; the next winter he was sent by Gov. Dudley on a mission to Can. and ret. in the spring with five Dfd. captives, two of whom were Hannah, his son's wife, and Esther, oldest dau. of Parson Williams; the next winter he was again sent to Can. to negotiate the redemption of English captives; he was so successful that May 30, 1706, he sailed fr. Quebec with 44, leaving 57 to be transported on the brigantine Hope, which was dispatched for them on his arrival at Boston, Aug. 1. Mr. Williams came with the latter company, which arrived Nov. 6. Williams speaks of Sheldon as 'a Good man and a True Servant of the Church in Deerfield, who twice took his Tedious and Dangerous Journey in the winter from New England to Canada on these occasions.' But still again, a third-time, he was sent in 1707, returning with seven captives—113 in all—but from different parts of New England. For a full acct. of the useful life of this man see ante, p. 324, and 'The History of Ensign John Sheldon,' a paper read at the annual meeting of the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association Feb. 17,1878, by Miss C. Alice Baker; soon aft. the resettlement of Mr. Williams Capt. Sheldon, rem. to Hart., where he was prominent and where he died abt. 1733; among his inventoried effects were Coffee, his wife and child, £130; boy George £8o; boy Coffee, £ 80; boy Robbin £70; girl Sue £60. John Sheldon m. Nov. 5, 1679, Hannah, dau. John Stebbins of Nhn. then 15 yrs. and 4 mos. old; she was k. by a shot through the 'Old Door,' Feb. 29, 1704—tradition says, shot through the neck while sitting up in bed, in the east front room; (2) Apr. 20, 1708, wid. Elizabeth Pratt of Hart.; she prob. d. May 4, 1758."

Capt. John Sheldon s of Isaac & Mary (Woodford) born 1658 died 1733 mar/1 Nov 5, 1679 Hannah Stebbins who died Feb 29, 1704 dau of John Stebbins. Mar/2 Apl 20, 1708 (Hartford Town Record) Elizabeth (Lee) Pratt widow of Daniel Pratt. She died May 4, 1758 ae 89 (1 Ch Rec) bur Center Ch."

Shelden, John s. Isack & Mary [born] Dec. 8, 1658

"Probate Records. Vol. XI, 1729 to 1732. Will and Invt. in Vol. XII, Page 234.

Sheldon, Capt. John, Hartford. Invt. £2569-07-07. Taken 20 March, 1733-4, by John Marsh, John Whiting and Jos. Talcott, Jr., for Hartford. Taken 13 March, 1733-4, for Windsor, by Samuel Strong, Thomas Filer and Timothy Loomis. Taken 5 March, 1733-4, for Deerfield, by Samuel Field, Joseph Sever and Jonathan Hoit.

Will dated 13 April, 1726: I, John Sheldon of Hartford, do make this my last will and testament: I give to my two grandsons, John and Charles Sheldon, the 1-2 of my lands in Deerfield (except the wanting lands), to them and their heirs forever, they paying to their sister Hannah Sheldon £20, as also £30 to their aunts (my daughters), Hannah Clark and Mary Clapp, being an addition to what I have already given them. I give to my son Ebenezer Sheldon the other half of my lands in Deerfield, with all the wanting lands there, to him and his heirs forever, he paying to my two daughters, Hannah Clark and Mary Clapp, £15 apiece, and also to my son Remembrance Sheldon the sum of £10. I give to my son Remembrance Sheldon all my houseing and lands in Windsor (excepting that tract of land I bought of Zechariah Sanford), to him and his heirs forever. I give to my beloved wife 1-3 part of all my real and personal estate lying in Hartford, that is to say, my houseing and lands lying in Hartford, with 1-3 part of that tract of land I bought of Zechariah Sandford lying in Windsor, during her natural life, which third part of houseing and lands after her decease to return to my son John Sheldon and his heirs. I give to my wife my negro boy named Coffe during her widowhood, then to return to my son John Sheldon or to my daughter Abigail Sheldon, to which their mother shall please to give it. I give to my son John Sheldon all my houseing and lands in Hartford, with that tract of land I bought of Zechariah Sandford, and to his heirs forever, excepting the use I have above given to his mother. I give to my daughter Abigail Sheldon £150, to be paid out of my moveable estate by my executors hereafter named, at the age of 18 years or day of marriage. If my moveable estate doth arise considerably higher than what I have above given, I then give to my son Remembrance Sheldon the sum of £5 in money or of my goods, as my executrix shall choose. And further, my will is that my beloved wife take the care of the education of my children, and for that end I give her the use of my lands given to my son John till he come of age, with the improvement of all my personal estate, the over-plus to her. Lastly, I do hereby appoint my beloved wife, with my son Remembrance Sheldon, to be executors.

JOHN SHELDON, LS.

Witness: Joseph Colyer, John Colyer, William Andrews.

Court Record, Page 107—26 February, 1733-4: The last will and testament of Capt. John Sheldon of Hartford was exhibited by the widow and Remembrance Sheldon, son of the decd. John Sheldon, son of the decd., of Deerfield, and grandson of Capt. John Sheldon, and the Rev. Mr. Elis of Enfield in right of his wife, sister of John Sheldon of Deerfield, was present when the will was approved.

Page 1 (Vol. XII) 1st April, 1734. Executors exhibit an inventory."

This burial is not documented in the Hale Collection. There appears to be no evidence of the actual place of burial.