Founded in 1939 by a group of Sheldon descendants, The Sheldon Family Association has a long history of providing support, information and camaraderie to those interested in Sheldon genealogy and in preserving their family history.  Join us as we come together to celebrate our heritage and preserve the memories of those who came before us.

A Message from the President

by Michael Sheldon

You may have heard the phrase, “The spirits moved me.” Often this is in reply to a call to action. This is a call to all members with the hope that the spirits will move you and summon you to volunteer for the Sheldon Family Association.

The SFA has been in existence since 1939, with an additional history that goes back even further in time. Its mission is much the same now as it was when it was started. In a few phrases:

  • To learn about and teach all things Sheldon, to anyone who is interested.
  • Documenting and sharing a number of Sheldon trees, and places where Sheldons lived and came from.
  • Gathering and sharing knowledge about how Sheldons impacted their surroundings and fellow man.

It has always been about pursuing the knowledge of who, what, when, where, why and how. It is amazing how much has been accumulated and learned through the years. The effort of previous leaders and the huge participation of volunteers over these 83 years is phenomenal and awe-inspiring. All of this takes selfless people to research, organize, write, and distribute the growing wealth of knowledge and to do so in keeping with the times.

Volunteering is not that onerous, and it is not tedious, either. Yes, it will require that you devote three to four hours
during a week if you are President, or it might be as little as a couple of hours a month if you serve on some of the
committees. The amount of time depends on what it is you seek to do and the level of engagement you wish to make. You have to remember that any amount of contribution moves all of us Sheldons forward. It is rewarding, educational, and very worthwhile. It can even become a passion.

The upcoming year will be one that requires help from new blood. Bottomline: We need (continued below)

some members to step up and be or become the next wave of SFA leaders. The election in July 2023 will be for a new President and a new Secretary. We also need to fill some Director at Large seats. There is a lot to do and a lot to sustain. You can take it in small steps if you wish by first becoming a Director at Large and learning the ropes and responsibilities. Can you heed a call to leadership and help?

Currently, we have a need to fill the Vice President role since the term ended in August 2022. Our VP is still filling in for her role as well as remaining as our leader of the Annual Reunions, but she has new responsibilities to help her immediate family, so we need a VP ASAP. The VP role is obviously active. The VP is a Board Member on the Executive Committee, and the backup should something happen to the President. Being in the loop is critical to this role. My real hope is that this person becomes our Policy and Procedures Manager.

We need to fill a void by having someone take up the mantle of our Social Media accounts and oversight. You do not need to be on the board to fill this role. The SFA has several social media sites. This person is there to keep them current and monitor the activity. This July will be the end of my fourth year as President. While I will remain on the Board and shift my focus to other things SFA, such as the Finance Chair, the Nominations Chair, and a member of the ACPL review team, I am also active in my community and have a growing responsibility as a caretaker, so a step back is required.

Finally, we always need volunteers on our committees for DNA research, Reunions, By Laws, the 501(3) exploration, research, and ACPL data review are at the top of the list. You do not need to be on the board to fill any of these roles. If you want more information or if you want to throw your hat in the ring, please let me know by emailing me at
president@sheldonfamily.org.

Sincerely,

Michael B Sheldon
President

2022 Reunion Boston, MA.
2021 Reunion Ft. Wayne, IN.
2019 Reunion St. Louis, MO.

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1 week ago

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Front row My Mother, Grandfather Butler, grandmother Allie Sheldon Butler, and my Aunt Minabel. Back row Ione, Floyd, Jennie,

23 hours ago

Not sure if anyone has watched the NCAA Women’s Basketball 🏀 Sweet Sixteen playoffs, but Sheldons are represented by Ohio State Senior guard Jacy Sheldon. Just thought it was cool. She’s also reeeeeeallly good! ... See MoreSee Less

Not sure if anyone has watched the NCAA Women’s Basketball 🏀 Sweet Sixteen playoffs, but Sheldons are represented by Ohio State Senior guard Jacy Sheldon. Just thought it was cool. She’s also reeeeeeallly good!

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She had a great game! I’m a UCONN fan but impressed with Jacy and will be rooting for her the rest of the way.

Jacy Sheldon appears to be a descendant of Thomas Sheldon who was b. 1789 in New Jersey. 🏀

23 hours ago

Sunday Sheldon picture! Alice Sheldon Butler, my Grandmother and Frank Butler. And children. ... See MoreSee Less

Sunday Sheldon picture! Alice Sheldon Butler, my Grandmother and Frank Butler. And children.Image attachment
1 week ago

Good morning Sheldon cousins!you just never know where a new secret Sheldon may pop up! At my dad’s funeral, my Mother told me that my dad had an affair with a married woman before dad was married and he thought her daughter could be my half sister? She even showed me a picture of dad leading a pony with this girl and I riding the pony together! Long story short I actually met this woman a few yrs. ago because my NY cousins went to school with her! She doubted my story so I did not pursue it- she never had her dna tested.🫤 Just got a hit on my dna testing sight! Her daughter had her dna tested without telling her mother and we are a match! Now she and her daughter want access to my dad’s Sheldon history! Yeahh ... See MoreSee Less

Comment on Facebook

Awesome!

Surprises in skeletons! 😳

Glad you don’t have to wonder any longer. ❤️

1 week ago

It isn't unusual to find our ancestors as members of a group, such as churches (many were Quakers), school alumni, veterans organizations, or fraternal societies. Have you found an ancestor who was as member of a really unique group? ... See MoreSee Less

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Yes, I came across Susannah Sheldon which many here are aware of. For anyone who is not aware of who she is she was one of the primary accusers during the Salem With Trials. Very intriguing to read about!

Independent Order of Odd Fellows (my dad for a short time in his later teens and some of his maternal ancestors).

1 week ago

Our grandfather, Frank H Sheldon, was a man of many talents and had ingenious skills. For reference, his father was Edward Thompson Sheldon and one of Henry O’s grandchildren.There are many stories I could tell about Granddad. Being taught the game of cribbage and when he was in charge of the ice rink for the Squaw Valley Olympics. However, I am reminded of this story due to the recent rains we have experienced in California. He and his wife, Dorothy, lived in the Santa Cruz mountains. One year there was a heavy rain storm that took out the bridge across a creek leading from the road to their house. After building a new bridge, he realized that a retaining wall was required to eliminate further erosion near the house. The main structure was made from concrete. But there was a large void between the wall and the land near the house. The problem was how to get dirt and sand from the road above the creek down behind the wall.Being a problem solver, he rigged up a pulley system attached to trees on either side of the creek. He built a wooden box with a latch the would dump the contents when it hit a stop that was behind the retaining wall. Once filled, the weight of the box would propel it down, across the creek. After getting across the creek the box was dumped. On the other end of the rope was a bucket with dirt that would pull the empty box back up to the road side where it could be refilled.Many loads of dirt and sand were moved from the road and across the creek. On a visit to our grandparents house, he showed off how he was filling in the dirt to his grandsons. In the true spirit of Mark Twain, Ross and I were enamored with the process and with shovels in hand, filled the box throughout the weekend visit.I have attached a picture from around that time, It includes 3 generations when we all were in Santa Cruz. It was taken in 1954I also attached a picture of the Edward Thompson Sheldon family. Great Grandfather Edward was a representative in the first legislature after South Dakota became a state. He was one of Henry O’s sons. It was taken around the turn of the century. - Robert S. ... See MoreSee Less

Our grandfather, Frank H Sheldon, was a man of many talents and had ingenious skills. For reference, his father was Edward Thompson Sheldon and one of Henry O’s grandchildren.
There are many stories I could tell about Granddad. Being taught the game of cribbage and when he was in charge of the ice rink for the Squaw Valley Olympics. However, I am reminded of this story due to the recent rains we have experienced in California. He and his wife, Dorothy, lived in the Santa Cruz mountains. One year there was a heavy rain storm that took out the bridge across a creek leading from the road to their house. After building a new bridge, he realized that a retaining wall was required to eliminate further erosion near the house. The main structure was made from concrete. But there was a large void between the wall and the land near the house. The problem was how to get dirt and sand from the road above the creek down behind the wall.
Being a problem solver, he rigged up a pulley system attached to trees on either side of the creek. He built a wooden box with a latch the would dump the contents when it hit a stop that was behind the retaining wall. Once filled, the weight of the box would propel it down, across the creek. After getting across the creek the box was dumped. On the other end of the rope was a bucket with dirt that would pull the empty box back up to the road side where it could be refilled.
Many loads of dirt and sand were moved from the road and across the creek. On a visit to our grandparents house, he showed off how he was filling in the dirt to his grandsons. In the true spirit of Mark Twain, Ross and I were enamored with the process and with shovels in hand, filled the box throughout the weekend visit.
I have attached a picture from around that time,  It includes 3 generations when we all were in Santa Cruz.  It was taken in 1954
I also attached a picture of the Edward Thompson Sheldon family.  Great Grandfather Edward was a representative in the first legislature after South Dakota became a state.  He was one of Henry O’s sons.  It was taken around the turn of the century. - Robert S.

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Thanks for the story and pictures.

My great grandfather was also a representative in the South Dakota legislature. He died in 1898 while he represented the county of Sanborn. His name was Millard Sylvester Sheldon and his father was Oscar Sheldon and he was born in New York but moved to Wisconsin as a youth. Ruth Sheldon Helgeson

For clarification, the picture in the upper left corner is of Charles Sheldon. He was the 2nd Governor of South Dakota. I believe he is of the Godfrey lineage.

1 month ago

Sheldon Furniture, Wakefield, RI (Y) I would guess it is around the turn of the 20th Century. Wakefield is right next ro South Kingstown, where my ancestors started out in the early 1600;s (John, SFA0013) 🙂 The company is still in business, today, and is operated by a man named John Sheldon. :O ... See MoreSee Less

Sheldon Furniture, Wakefield, RI (Y) I would guess it is around the turn of the 20th Century. Wakefield is right next ro South Kingstown, where my ancestors started out in the early 1600;s (John, SFA0013) :) The company is still in business, today, and is operated by a man named John Sheldon. :O

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Hey cousin, I think we may be (distantly) related. John Sheldon (1685-1722) Kingston RI was my ninth generation direct ancestor.

Not sure how closely related, but my middle initial is L and my fathers name is David 😁. Related to Isaac Sheldon who settled in Northampton Ma.

Amazing.

haha I am related to Isaac. My name is John Sheldon also

That’s awesome

hello! i am descended from john0013 as well!

I am a descendent of John13 of New Kingston. So we share dna my cousin

Back in the day Sheldon’s had lots of children because tv hadn’t happened and newspapers had to be read by the fireplace, not in bed!

Hi, cousin Dave. This is my line also, have visited there once, now live in CA! Wendy ( Sheldon) Black

Hi SFA members, this business was in our Sheldon Places Map, but we didn't have the photo posted. I've updated that. Check out the Map! You have to log in as an SFA member in order to see the map of Sheldon places. Currently 405 places and gowing! sheldonfamily.org/sheldon-places/

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1 week ago

Finally found my secret sister! ... See MoreSee Less

Finally found my secret sister!
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