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- (If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, and to other sources as noted herein.)
I am going to make an assumption that Sheffield is a son of Thomas & Patience (Matteson) Remington (needs additional research to confirm). So far the evidence points to this.
In the 1840 Federal Census, Sheffield Remington is listed as residing in Coventry, RI. The household includes: two free white males age 0-5, one free white male age 20-30, and one free white female age 20-30. Census data shows that Sheffield was engaged in agriculture.
In the 1850 Federal Census, he is age 37 and living at West Greenwich, RI, with various family members in the household of Sarah (Nichols) Whitford, mother of Levi who married Sally Ann Remington. Thus, it seems very possible that Sheffield is a younger brother of Sarah Whitford's daughter-in-law, Sally Ann (Remington) Whitford.
In 1850 Sheffield's wife Huldah is not with him, so possibly he is widowed (or divorced?). His son Christopher b.c.1838 is also living in West Greenwich with the Benoni Matteson family. A Cyrus W. Remington, b.c.1840 is living with the Burrill Matteson family. Could Cyrus be another son? It is very likely, especially since Christopher later had a son named Cyrus.
Sheffield named a son Christopher H. He could be named after the maternal grandfather of Patience (Matteson) Remington (Christopher Hall); Patience also had a brother named Christopher. Very possibly Sheffield named a son after this (assumed) uncle and his (assumed) great grandfather.
Another point of interest is that a younger sister of Sally Ann (Remington) Whitford, Susan, married Dr. Cyrus Place, whose first wife was Rosannah Matteson, first cousin of Susan. Thus, the name Cyrus appears among the uncles in the Remington/Matteson extended family.
In 1860 at West Greenwich, the census shows Cyrus, age 19, George, age 17, & Henry C., age 15, living with various families in town. Are these all brothers, possibly sons of Sheffield & Huldah? Possibly.
In the 1860 Federal Census, Sheffield "Remeninto" is age 47 and living in Coventry, RI, at the home of John B. & Ruth Strait, along with several other individuals who may be boarders. In the 1870 Federal Census, Sheffield Remington is age 57 and living alone (keeping house) at West Greenwich, RI. He is living next to Burrill (age 35) & Caroline Matteson and family. Are these folks related to the Burrill Matteson in 1850 in whose household Cyrus Remington, age 10, was living? Probably.
Sheffield Remington was liberated from jail in Jan 1860. I don't know what his offense was -- possibly not paying his debts or taxes -- this needs more research. (source: Acts and Resolves of the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Passed at the May Session, 1858; p. 226; Google Books): "Upon the petition of Sheffield Remington, praying to be released from imprisonment in the Kent county jail: Voted and resolved, That the senate do hereby advise and consent to the pardon of the said Sheffield Remington from his said imprisonment, as recommended by His Excellency the Governor."
Unfortunately, the death record at Coventry does not identify his parents, or his age. In fact, it gives no information at all about him. I have no idea where he could have been buried, as there is no record of a gravestone in the RI Cemetery Database. Of course, he may be buried in the family plot without a stone.
As an alternative to the above notes, Sheffield may be a son of Tiddeman Remington & Elizabeth Sheffield, but I have no other evidence with which to confirm this. The death record of George, Sheffield's son, says Sheffield was born in Coventry, so this leads me to favor the possibility that he is a son of Thomas & Patience.
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