Captain Christopher Sheldon

Notes:

Christopher Sheldon was one of the men involved in the buring of the British ship Gaspee (http://gaspee.org/GaspeeRaiders.htm).

Christopher Sheldon is mentioned as a friend in the will of Stephen Remington who died in 1786. Stephen's will also mentions Christopher's five children. Stephen was married to Christopher's aunt, Mercy Mary Sheldon.

Christopher and his wife Rosanna were first cousins.

The following notes are excerpted from the web site site gaspee.org (see URL above):

"Christopher Sheldon . . . owner of the Sheldon Wharf in Providence, participated in rebellious action of June 10, 1772 which captured and burned the British revenue boat "Gaspee" at Gaspee point in Narragansett Bay."

"On the night of June 10th, 1772 Christopher Sheldon had joined 8 rowboats full of Providence men who made their way with muffled oars to his majesty's ship Gaspee, sent to enforce the stamp act, and burned her."

"As a youth and young man Christopher was born into a family intertwined with many of the other area families by marriage since Providence was a town of about 4,000 individuals. At least two of these were the Tillinghast and the Fenner families, both well known locally. His father was Town Treasurer for many years and, according to Chase, Providence houses, 1779, had built a sizable house near the still standing warehouse on South Main Street. His mother, the former Mary Greene, died when he was only twelve. His father remarried and Christopher became a part of a large family." [Don't think this is accurate -- perhaps the second wife was Mary Greene. I believe the first wife was Lydia Arnold, d/o Israel Arnold.]

"Sometime prior to the French and Indian War time period he began working for the Brown family mercantile interests and served as a Master on several of their ships which career he continued for much of the rest of his time as a seaman. During the French and Indian War, he functioned as a privateer on two Brown ships, both of which were captured in 1764, the snow, Dolphin and the schooner, Rosanna. After that time he worked with the Brown family in more 'normal' maritime efforts as master of the brig, George, ( 1767-1771) which sailed between Providence and Paramaribo, Surinam for Nicholas Brown & Co. One record that Irving Sheldon discovered was a bill for carrying a French captain to Antigua. A Rhode Island privateer had captured this gentleman, and this was a step in returning the captain to French territory. For his services, Christopher billed the Colony."

"In mid 1772 at the time of the Gaspee raid, Captain Christopher Sheldon was 40 years old and Captain Joseph Tillinghast (a known Gaspee Raider and longboat captain) was 38. Probably both would have known John Mawney, the 'physician' on the Gaspee raid since Tillinghast eventually married Mawney

Christopher married Rosanna Arnold 7 Jan 1753, Providence, RI. Rosanna (daughter of Israel Arnold, III and Mary Rhodes) was born Abt 1733; died 5 Nov 1766; was buried , North Burial Ground, Providence, RI. [Group Sheet]

1. Remington Sheldon was born 22 Aug 1753, Providence, RI; died 17 Dec 1829, Pawtuxet, RI; was buried , Pawtuxet Burial Yard, Post Rd., Warwick, RI.
2. Israel Sheldon was born 7 Sep 1755; died 5 May 1792, Cape Tubeworm, Hispaniola, West Indies; was buried , North Burial Ground, Providence, RI.
3. Lydia Sheldon was born 11 Sep 1757, Providence, RI; died 18 Jan 1792.
4. Mary Polly Sheldon was born 4 Mar 1761; died 16 Jan 1790.
5. Rosanna Sheldon was born 2 May 1763; died 1789.

Notes:

Joseph's four children are mentioned in the will of his sister Lydia (Sheldon) Arnold.

Joseph married Lydia Arnold 15 Jan 1724/25, Providence, RI. Lydia (daughter of Israel Arnold, II and Elizabeth Smith) was born 8 Jan 1702/03, Warwick, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

His will was proved in Jan 1747, with a notation that he died the previous November. However, at that time the year changed in March, so the will was proved in Jan 1747/48.

Nicholas married Abigail Tillinghast Abt 1692, Providence, RI. Abigail (daughter of Pardon Tillinghast and Lydia Taber) was born 30 Jun 1674, Providence, RI; died 1744, Providence, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Abigail's date of birth has been given variously as March 1674, 20 Jan 1674, and 30 June 1674.

Notes:

Israel was the second husband of Elizabeth (Stafford) Case. His will mentions his wife Elizabeth; sons Christopher, Joseph, & Simon; and daughters Lydia (Sheldon), Mary (Carpenter), Rebecca, & Barshaba; and grandsons Israel, Peleg, & Stephen Arnold.

It was either this "Israel Arnold of Pawtuxet" or his father who in 1707 purchased land in Cowesett from the heirs of Robert Potter. This piece of land was originally designated as farm #3, on the northwest corner of the intersection of Routes 2 & 3. Part of this was later sold to the Remingtons.

Israel married Elizabeth Smith 28 Feb 1697/98, Warwick, RI. Elizabeth (daughter of Benjamin Smith, Sr. and Lydia Carpenter) was born 1672; died 7 Feb 1717/18, Warwick, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

According to the Sheldon Family Assocation, John is first found in the Providence records in 1654.

John married Joan Vincent 1660. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

From the website of the Sheldon Family Association: "Joan Vincent is the daughter of Nicholas Vincent and Fridgeswith Carpenter, of Amesbury, England. Joan is the niece of William Carpenter, an early founder in Providence Records. Fridgeswith inherited the home in England from her brother William."

Notes:

Name Origins, by Julie Helen Otto
"Correction: A few weeks ago in Name Origins I discussed the name Pardon as a virtue name. As far as we can tell, all men named Pardon in the colonial period were descendants of Pardon Tillinghast of Rhode Island. Researcher Donna Casey recently brought to my attention her research on Pardon Tillinghast

Pardon married Lydia Taber 16 Apr 1664, Providence, RI. Lydia (daughter of Philip Taber and Lydia Masters) was born 1640, Yarmouth, Barnstable, MA; died 1720. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The identity of Lydia's parents as Philip & Lydia was obtained from The Tillinghasts in America, the First Four Generations, by Wayne G. Tillinghast, p. 1 (pub 2006 by RI Genealogical Society).

Notes:

Israel's will names his father, Stephen; his wife, Mary; and his children: Israel, William, Elisha, Stephen, James, Joseph (eldest), Josiah, Mary (Low), Sarah (Carpenter), & Barbary (Carpenter). I have estimated the dates of birth for most of them -- needs more research.

It was either this "Israel Arnold of Pawtuxet" or his son who in 1707 purchased land in Cowesett from the heirs of Robert Potter. This piece of land was originally designated as farm #3, on the northwest corner of the intersection of Routes 2 & 3. Part of this was later sold to the Remingtons.

Israel married Mary Barker Abt 1672. Mary (daughter of James Barker and Barbara Dungan) was born Abt 1650; died Abt 1723. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Mary's will dated 29 July 1721 mentions children Israel, William, Elisha, Stephen, Joseph, James, Mary (Low), Sarah (Carpenter), & Barbary (Carpenter).

Notes:

Benjamin mentions his wife and children in his will.

Benjamin married Lydia Carpenter Abt 1660. Lydia was born Abt 1638. [Group Sheet]