Gideon Sheldon (1776-1805)
Hello all,
I'm putting it out there to get any info at all on Gideon Sheldon (1776-1805) and his wife and kids.There isn't a lot of info and I'm hoping someone has had the opportunity to do some research in Essex/Dutchess/Clinton Counties in New York.I hope to get there some day myself.
Really the only info comes from Rev Henry O. Sheldon's well known Sheldon Magazine (1855).
Gideon Sheldon was born in about 1776, estimated in Pawling, Dutchess, New York, son of Isaac Sheldon and Sarah Gifford.He died, supposedly, in November of 1805 in Willsborough (Willsboro), Essex, New York.Although I would assume he would be listed as the head of a household in 1800 I have not yet found him.Of course it is possible that he was living with his father in Willsborough in 1800.
He would have married in the late 1790's to Rhoda Gillet.The name "Gillet" was given in the Sheldon Magazine but many have speculated that it should be Gilbert.There is no documentation either way.I found one genealogy that noted Rhoda died in September of 1841 but gave no evidence to support this date.The Sheldon Magazine lists three children.
1. Deborah Sheldon, born about 1800.She married Zebulon Baker and lived in Plattsburgh, Clinton County, New York and had at least three children - John Sheldon Baker (1821-?), Rhoda Ann Baker Allen (1822-1895) and Emeline L. Baker Harrington (1824-1887).Deborah died some time between 1824, when her last known child was born, and September 1827 when Zebulon remarried Elizabeth Albee.There is a portrait of Zebulon with a wife that was clearly done very early.Many speculate that the wife is Elizabeth Albee, but it could also be Deborah Sheldon.If it is Deborah it may be the earliest portrait of a Sheldon in this particular Sheldon family.I have done quite a bit of research on their descendants.
2. Hiram Sheldon (1802-1804).No information given, died when still a toddler apparently.
3. Gideon Sheldon (1804-aft. 1841).Gideon married Sarah Ann Stafford (1809-1846).Little is known of this couple as well.Gideon must have still been living in 1841 when daughter Juliette was born.He is most likely the Gideon Sheldon found in Essex, Essex, New York in the 1830 census, his sons Joel and Wallace were born in Westport, Essex, New York in the mid-1830's and he is most likely the Gideon Sheldon in Saranac, Clinton, New York in the 1840 census.He may also be the Gideon Sheldon found in Brooklyn, New York in the 1850 census (son Wallace would later move to Brooklyn as well, but otherwise Gideon's children are found in various households in Westport in 1850).Tut there is also a boy Henry Sheldon listed in the same household (but oddly not directly with Gideon) which gives some doubt as well.I have done quite a bit of research on the descendants, this is my line of the family.
Basically I'm hoping to open this up to some discussion and also hope that someone out there has had a chance to do some searching directly in New York.I'm in California and wont be able to get over there any time soon.There are a lot of great leads here and information to go off of, but nothing solid as of yet.
- Dale Sheldon