Who we are...

The Sheldon Family Association was founded in 1939 by a group of Sheldon descendants, with the purpose of furthering interest in their heritage and preserving their family history.

The genealogical data with which the SFA began was originally collected by Reverend Henry O. Sheldon, a circuit preacher, as he rode from village to village in the 1800s. Rev. Sheldon documented five apparently unrelated Sheldon families dating back to Colonial times; SFA members are descendants of these five families. Over the years, this original “database” has been researched and continually updated, now containing over 70,000 names, including Sheldon spouse data.

But the SFA has become much more than a surname-based genealogy society. Over the years, as descendants of these Sheldon families have met annually in various locations across the nation at the Sheldon Family Association reunion and business meeting, a strong sense of family has grown between the members of the various families. While the business meeting is the focal point of the reunions, time is always set aside for group activities, or just spending time with other Sheldons.

In truth, we have become more of an extended family, sharing the bond of a common heritage and a common purpose.

Take a few minutes to learn more about the Sheldon Family Association, and its long history, activities and resources. And if you have a Sheldon ancestor, please request a free search of the award winning Sheldon Family Association Database (a composite of the Sheldon Magazine brought into the present day with information supplied by Sheldon descendants) - just write or email Rose at Genealogist@sheldonfamily.org. You'll find more information on the Contact Us page.

2012 Annual Sheldon Family Association Reunion

The Sheldon Family Association will meet in Northampton, Massachusetts for our 73rd annual reunion and business meeting. The dates are August 5-8, 2012. . . MORE> (Updated 27 Mar 2012)

Sheldon DNA Project

The Sheldon Family Association was founded in 1939 for the purpose of stimulating interest in, and perpetuating the history of the Sheldon/Shelden family in the USA. We are cooperating with the FTDNA testing site to study the DNA of Sheldon descendants in order to attempt to discover common ancestors. The goal of the project is to see if DNA testing can discover a link between the early Sheldon Ancestors or Progenitors. Particularly useful is the testing of men named Sheldon. Combined with traditional genealogical research the results can be compared to other Sheldon men. Using genetics and the markers on the Y chromosome, similar patterns may become clear. We urge Sheldon men to submit a test sample to Family Tree DNA for the 25 or 37 marker test - click FTDNA for a link to their website and more information. Learn about our ongoing project and other topics related to Sheldon DNA. . . MORE>

Recent Events...

2011 Annual Reunion Report and Photos

President Jeanne Arnold Jeffries reports on the 2011 meeting in Portland, Oregon. . . MORE>

2011 Reunion Saturday Banquet Photos. . .MORE>

Sheldon Family Association is now on

Sue Sheldon of Shelton, WA has set up a facebook page for the Sheldon Family Association. Check it out and join the fun. . . MORE>

Comments from the SFA Questionnaire

Many interesting comments were made by some of the Sheldons who filled out the recent SFA Questionnaire. . . MORE> (PDF- Requires Adobe Reader. Download it HERE)
 

 

Thanks for visiting our site - hope we see you at our next Reunion!

 

 

SFA at a glance...

If this is your first visit to our website, take a few minutes to get to know us - we've been around for over 70 years! Find out how Rev. Henry O. Sheldon's work collecting and documenting Sheldons in the 1800s resulted in the Sheldon Magazine and provided the foundation for the Sheldon Family Association.

Contact us and find out if your Sheldon ancestors have already been documented in one of our Sheldon families. And, if they aren't in our database, we'll work with you to find a connection.

After you have connected with one of the SFA families, we hope you'll consider membership. We thrive on touching base with all our Sheldon descendants and always welcome new members. And your dues will ensure that our Sheldon records will be preserved for future generations.

We appreciate contributions of your Sheldon genealogy to our database. If you have already contributed, we thank you - and please, remember to keep us up-to-date.