The Sheldon archives
All the Sheldon stories in one place
An international Sheldon family of entertainers
MANY YEARS AGO a chance find in the 1881 UK census set me on the trail of a Sheldon family of entertainers that moved from England to Germany, the Netherlands and finally to New York…
Burnt at the stake over a handful of dud coins
ANYONE BEARING THE SHELDON NAME will find the story of Sarah Sheldon a harrowing one. Even by the often barbaric nature of justice in 1692, being burnt at the stake over a handful of dud coins…
The Black Death and the first Ralph Sheldon
THE FIRST NAME in the earliest recorded Sheldon pedigree is that of Ralph Sheldon, believed to have been born in the village of Sheldon, Warwickshire, around 1320, a hundred years or so after…
Edward Sheldon, movie writer and playwright
EDWARD BREWSTER SHELDON, variously described as “America’s first great playwright” and “Broadway’s Wonder Boy”, achieved great success and wealth in the first half of the 20th century despite…
William Sheldon, tram pioneer
WILLIAM HENRY SHELDON, born in Preston, Lancashire, in 1812, became a sufficiently well-known public figure for The London Times newspaper to devote several column inches to his obituary when he died…
The first Derbyshire Sheldons
EVIDENCE OF EARLY SHELDONS in Derbyshire is surprisingly difficult to find, with the appearance of a Roger de Scheladon in 1307/08 legal proceedings over a debt the first tangible record…
John Sheldon and his 95 great-grandchildren
THE STAFFORDSHIRE ADVERTISER newspaper dated 12th June 1802 recorded the passing of the remarkable John Sheldon, who had died in the town of West Bromwich at the grand old age of 102…
Where Sheldons were found in the 16th century
A SEARCH THROUGH the earliest-available parish records from 16th century England gives us a good indication of the geographical distribution of people with the Sheldon surname at the time…
The birth of the first great Sheldon dynasty
THE EARLIEST RECORDED SHELDON DYNASTY begins with Anselm de Scheldon, from whom will grow a hugely wealthy and powerful family that would spread its power and influence into every corner…