Arthur Sheldon

circa 1575 - 1653

All that is known about Arthur is taken from J Gardner Bartlett's research ⁽¹⁾, but what sources have been verified (such as his will ⁽²⁾) appear to be correct.

Arthur was born around 1675, probably in Monyash. He probably married around the end the 16th century, but his wife's name is unknown. His eldest known daughter Jane was born around 1600. She was followed by another daughter Mary around 1602, then sons Ralph in about 1605, Arthur in about 1607 and John in about 1612. Finally he had two more daughters, Anne in about 1612 and Elizabeth around 1615.

His father died in 1623, and that is probably when Arthur inherited his house in Ashford called Lowefield. He was certainly living there by 1626.

He descibed himself as a yeoman in his will of 1651 ⁽²⁾. He died sometime between then and his probate in 1653 ⁽²⁾.

• Jane was born about 1600. She married William Wright in 1620 and they had at least three children: William, Thomas and John.
• Mary was born about 1602. She died in January 1618.
• Ralph was born about 1607. He married Barbara Stone in 1629 in Bakewell. They had at least 3 children Isaac, Samuel and Solomon. Ralph was granted a license to "pass beyond the seas" in January 1651, and is believed to have died en route to America later that year.
• Arthur was born about 1607, and died in 1618.
• John was born about 1612 and died in 1618.
• Anne has her own page
• Elizabeth was born about 1615 and married William Lowe of Ashford.

1. The Sheldons of Bakewell, Derbyshire, England, and Isaac Sheldon of New England by J Gardner Bartlett, in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register contains a genealogy of the Sheldon family and includes this section on Arthur Sheldon:
   ARTHUR ⁸ SHELDON (Roger ⁷, Richard ⁶, John ⁵, John ⁴, Richard ³, Hugh ², Richard ¹), of Ashford, in Bakewell, co. Derby, born about 1575, died in the summer of 1651, aged about 75 years. He married about 1600, but the name of his wife is unknown.
   The earliest record found of him is in 1591-92, when, as a youth, he is mentioned as heir in remainder to his father Roger Sheldon, in the lawsuit between his grandfather, Richard Sheldon, and the latter's half brother, Henry Sheldon. (Vide supra, No 9) He also suceeded to the little cottage, with 4 acres, in Ashford, called Lowefield, which was in the family as early as 1494.
   In a rental roll of the manor of High Peak Hundred, dated 7 June, 2 Charles I [1626], Arthur Sheldon is recorded as holding in Ashford a cottage and 4 acres called Lowefield, at a rental of 3s 4d. (Rolls of the Manor of High Peak Hundred, Duchy of Lancaster, 1/28.)
   In a subsidy of 4 Charles I [1628] Arthur Sheldon was assessed at Ashford, in High Peak Hundred, co Derby, and paid 8s on goods valued at £3. (Lay Subsidies, 93/362)
   The will of Arthur Sheldon of Ashford, co Derby, yeoman, weak in body, dated 10 June 1651. To be buried in the chapel of Ashford, near William Lowe his seat there. To my son Ralph Sheldon 2s 6d, and to his wife Barbara 2s 6d. To my grandchild Isaak Sheldon £8. To [grandson] Samuell Sheldon £4. My grandson Solomon Sheldon is to be kept one and one-half years with meat and drink after my decease, at the cost of my executor. To my grandsons William, Thomas, and John Wright 5s each. To [daughter] Anne White, wife of Ralph White of Sheldon £20. All the residue of my goods to [daughter] Elizabeth Lowe, wife of William Lowe of Ashford, and she is to be sole executrix. Supervisor: Ralph White of Sheldon. [Signed] The mark of Arthur Sheldon. Witnesses: John Wright and John Ragge. Proved at Westminster 20 May 1653 by the executrix Elizabeth, the wife of William Lowe. (PCC, Brent, 254)
   Children:
   i. JANE, b about 1600; m at Bakewell, 9 July 1620, WILLIAM WRIGHT.
       In the hearth tax of 1663 he is enrolled at Ashford in Derbyshire
       and is assessed for one hearth.
           Children (surnamed Wright)
           1. William, b about 1622
           2. Thomas
           3. John
   ii. MARY, b about 1602; d unm; bur at Bakewell 13 Jan 1617/18.
   iii. RALPH, b about 1605.
   iv. ARTHUR, b about 1607; bur at Bakewell 17 Apr 1618.
   v. JOHN, b about 1612; bur at Bakwell 20 Apr 1618.
   vi. ANNE, b about 1612; m at Bakewell, 24 May 1635, RALPH WHITE.
       They resided in Sheldon, where he was assessed for two hearths
       in the hearth tax of 1663.
   vii. ELIZABETH, b about 1615; m WILLIAM LOWE of Ashford, who was
       assessed there for two hearths in the hearth tax of 1663.
2. PCC contemporay probate copy of the will of Arthur Sheldon of Ashford, dated 10/6/1651 reads:
   In the name of God Amen I Arthur Sheldon of Ashford
   in the county of Derby yeoman being weake in body but in perfect minde and memorye pray
   sed bee Almighty God for itt do heeere amke and ordayne this my last will and Testament
   in manner and forme followinge First I Committ Comend and bequeath my soul into
   the hands of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by whose Death and passion I truly hope to
   enjoye pte of the blessed Resurrection And to bee made an Inheritor of the Everlasting Joyes
   of Heaven Item I bequeath my body to the earth whereof itt was made to bee
   Buryed in the chappell of Ashford neere William Lowe his seate there And for all my
   worldly Goods to disposed of as Followeth Imprimis I give and bequeath unto Ralph
   Sheldon my sonne the some of Two Shillings and sixpence Item I give and bequeath unto Isaac
   Sheldon my Grandchilde the some of eight poundes Item I give unto Samuell Sheldon
   the sume of Fouer pounds Item my will is that Solomon Sheldon my Grandchilde bee
   kept one yeare and halfe with meate and drinke after my decease att the [...] of my of my Exe
   cutors Item I give and bequeath unto William Wright and Thomas Wright my granchidren
   the some of Tenne shillings betwixt them Item I give unto my Grandchilde John Wright
   Tenne Shillings Item I give unto Anne White the wife of Raph White of Sheldon
   the some of Twenty pounds And for all the rest of my Worldly Goods I give and
   bequeath unto Elizabeth lowe the wife of William Lowe of Ashford whom I make
   the sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament And Ralph White of Sheldon
   Supervisor And I utterly revoke all former Wills Gifts Legacys and promises what
   soever heertofore made In witness hereof I the said Arthur Sheldon have heerunto
   sett my hand and seale the Tenth day of June in the yeare of our lord God 1651 The
   Marke of Arthur Sheldon Sealed and delivered in the presence of John Wright
   John Ragge
   This will was proved at Westminster the Twentieth day of Maye In the yeare
   1653 Before the Judges for Probate for Wills and grantinge Administracons accordinge
   to an Act of Parliament Entitled an Act for Probate of Wills and grantinge
   Administrations & By the Oath of Elizabeth the wife of William Lowe sole Executrix To
   Whom was Comitted Administracon & Shee beinge by [.oucession] first swore truly to
   administer etc