Person:Stephen Sheldon (10)

BIOGRAPHY: New England Ancestry of Susan Alma Cook 1866-1934 Researched and Compiled by Philip R. Bunnelle Santa Clara, California 1998 Published by PB Press - Santa Clara, Ca Page 39

  Stephen Sheldon-son of Nicholas and Penelope (Arnold) Sheldon. Stephen was born about 1738, probably in Providence, RI. He married first, in Cranston, RI, 13 June 1762, Susanna Chase, the service being performed by James Harris, Justice. Stephen married second, Lydia Greene, 5 January 1800, by Elder Charles Stone. He married third Elizabeth Manchester.
  The 1777 Military census lists him as living in Cranston and "able," while the 1782 Rhode Island state census shows him heading a household of then there. The 1790 U.S. census shows him heading a household of 15 in Cranston. His household consisted of seven persons in 1800 and just two in 1810. The latter census shows his son Stephen living next door.
  He died at Cranston 9 February 1816, aged 78. His will dated 20 January 1814 was proved 24 February 1816 (Cranston Probate, 2:276-7). In it he mentions wife Elizabeth and sons Joseph and Stephen. He mentions daughters Penelope, Waity, Olive, Eshter and Lydia, all of whom have heirs and in all cases the heirs received. Female heirs of two of the daughters are named - my Daughter Olive's heir Rhobe Lippitt and my daughter Esther's heir Eliza Cooke. From this it appears that all his daughters died before the date of his will. The settlement of his estate is recorded in Cranston records, 9-721(?).

1. ↑ Providence Phenix, in Arnold, James N. Vital Record of Rhode Island, 1636–1850: First series, births, marriages and deaths. A family register for the people. (Narragansett Hist. Publ. Co., 1891).

   SHELDON, Stephen, at Cranston, aged 78 years, Feb. 9, 1816