He retained his faculties to the last
The Staffordshire Advertiser dated 12th June 1802 recorded the passing of the remarkable John Sheldon, who had died in the town of West Bromwich, Staffordshire, at the grand old age of 102.
There is a record of his burial, in the churchyard at All Saints, West Bromwich, on 23rd May 1802, and the parish register confirms his age at 102 but gives no further details.
The newspaper report noted that Mr Sheldon had died “leaving numerous progency”, namely nine children, 51 grand-children, 95 great grand-children and five children of a fourth generation. The report added: “He retained his faculties until the last.”
Sadly, unless any of his descendants have him in their family tree, we are unlikely to be able to find out more about this larger than life character.
The only birth record I have found that fits the above facts points to a John Sheldon born some four miles from West Bromwich, in Rowley Regis, where the baptism of a son, John, to Abraham Sheldon and his wife Ann is listed in parish records for 31st May 1701.
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