Joseph Sheldon

1816 - 1888

Joseph was born in Ashford in 1816, the youngest of the eight children of John & Hannah, and baptised at Holy Trinity, Ashford on 17th November the same year ⁽¹⁾.

Nothing else is known of him until, in 1837, he fathered an illegitimate daughter Jane, with Mary Howard, also of Ashford ⁽²⁾. He and Mary married soon afterwards, on 11th December that year in Bakewell ⁽³⁾. He worked as a Framework Knitter ⁽³⁾. His mother died a few months later, in March 1838 ⁽⁴⁾

His son Robert was born in 1840 ⁽⁵⁾, so in the census of June 1841 ⁽⁶⁾, he and Mary were living in Ashford with their two children Jane and Robert. His next son John was born in 1843 ⁽⁷⁾, followed by a daughter Sarah Ann in 1846 ⁽⁸⁾, and sons James in 1848 ⁽⁹⁾ and George in 1851 ⁽¹¹⁾. George was probably a very ill child, as he was privately baptised, then "received into church" at a later date ⁽¹¹⁾.

In the census of March 1851 ⁽¹⁰⁾, the family are all living on Gunners Lane in Ashford with the exception of eldest daughter Jane, who was living with Mary Heathcote (an elderly relative of Joseph's mother) elsewhere in Ashford. Joseph was still working as a framework knitter. His father John died the following February ⁽¹²⁾.

His next son, Joseph, was born in 1853 ⁽¹³⁾. His daughter Sarah died in May 1854. ⁽¹⁴⁾. Two more sons then followed, Henry in 1858 ⁽¹⁵⁾, and Francis William in about March of 1861 ⁽¹⁶⁾, so that by April 1861, he and Mary were living on Narrow Lane in Ashford with eight sons and a daughter ⁽¹⁷⁾. Joseph had changed from being a framework knitter to an agricultural labourer sometime in the late 1850s ^(15)(16)(17), and he was still doing something similar at the time of his son John's marriage in 1864, when he was described as a gardener ⁽¹⁸⁾.

His last son son, Edward, was born just a month later in about September 1864 ⁽¹⁹⁾, when his job description changed to being simply "labourer". He was described thus in the next census of April 1871, by which time he and Mary had just 6 of their sons living with them ⁽²⁰⁾. By the census of 1881 ⁽²¹⁾, two more children had left home.

Joseph died on 8th September 1888 aged 72 ⁽²²⁾, having lived in Ashford all his life. His wife Mary survived him by just under a year ⁽²³⁾.

• Jane was born in Ashford in June 1837 a few months before her parents married, and thus was given her father's name as a middle name, but her mother's as her surname - "Jane Sheldon Howard". As a teenager she went to live with an elderly relative of her mother called Mary Heathcote, but returned to her parents home prior to her marriage in 1864, to John Grant of Bakewell. They had 3 children, Hannah Mary, John Robert & Sarah Jane. The family lived in Ashford to start with, then moved to Nether Paddley, then Froggatt. Her husband died in 1899, but Jane was still living in Froggatt during the 1901 census. She may have died in 1909.
• Robert was born in Ashford in 1840. He woked in the marble industry for a while, and married a woman called Mary Anne. Later he simply a general labbourer. Mary Anne died in 1902 and he died in 1910. They didn't have any children.
• John has his own page
• Sarah Ann was born in Ashford in 1846, and died there aged 8 in 1854.
• James was born in Ashford on 26th October 1848. As a young man he worked as a marble polisher. He moved to Burbage, and soon after he married Harriet Robinson on Christmas day 1871 in Macclesfield. They lived in Buxton initially before moving to Ashton under Lyme, then Hurst, and finally emigrating to Rhode Island, USA. They had ten children, Hannah Mary, Harry, Emma, William, Jane, James, Robert, Edward, John and George; many of whom emigrated with them. He died in 1914, and Harriet died in 1937.
• George was born in Ashford in 1851. He lived there, working as a marble inlayer, until sometime in his twenties, when he moved to Buxton. He then moved on to Sutton in Ashfield where he was living in 1891. He hadn't married up to that time, but nothing is known of what happened to him after that.
• Joseph was born in 1853 in Ashford. According to the 1871 census he was still a scholar at the age of 17, which would seem to imply that he was very well educated for the times. However, he spent most of his working life as a labourer, so there must be some other explanation. He married Sarah Jane Oldfield in 1891. By 1901 they still had no children, and he was working as an assistant to a greengrocer.
• Thomas was born in 1857 in Ashford. He started out as a marble polisher, then became a more general labourer. He married Sarah Ellen Else of Sutton in Ashfield in 1880, and they set up home in Ashford. By 1901 they had 8 children, Mary, Sarah Ann, James, Lilly White, Joseph, Winifred Hannah, Elizabeth & George Edward.
• Henry was born in Ashford in 1858. He worked mainly as a marble polisher. he married a woman called Elizabeth in the 1890s and they set up home in Sutton in Ashfield. They had a son James in 1900, but nothing more is known of them after 1901.
• Francis William was born in 1861 in Ashford. In 1887 he married Mary Harris and they lived in Hucknall. They had at least one son Francis.
• Edward was born in 1864 in Ashford. He married a girl called Hannah who already had a daughter, and they lived in Buxton and had at least five more children: Lily, Ann, George, Harriet & Harry.

1. Baptism entry in parish register of Holy Trinity, Ashford reads:
   

   When baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parent's Christian Name	Parent's Surname	Abode	Quality, Trade or Profession
   17th November   [1816]	Joseph Son of	John Hannah	Sheldon	Ashford	Frame Work Knitter

2. Baptism entry in parish register of Holy Trinity, Ashford reads:
   

   When baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parent's Christian Name	Parent's Surname	Abode	Quality, Trade or Profession
   Oct 1st Born June 19 1837	Jane Sheldon daughter of	Mary	Howard	Ashford	Singlewoman

3. Marriage Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

   1837 Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church in the Parish of Bakewell in the County of Derby

   When married	Name and Surname	Age	Condition	Rank or Profession	Residence at the time of marriage	Father's name and Surname	Rank or Profession of father
   Dec'r 11th [1837]	Joseph Sheldon	of full age	Bachelor	Frame work Knitter	Ashford	John Sheldon	Gardener
   	Mary Howard	Minor	Spinster	Living with her Father	Ashford	Francis Howard	Frame Work Knitter

   Married in the Chirch at Bakewell according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church after Banns

   in the presence of Benjamin Bradbury, Hannah Bradbury

4. Death Certificate from Registration District of Matlock, Bakewell and Tideswell states:

   When and where died	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
   1838, March 18, Ashford	Hannah Sheldon	Female	63	Wife of John Sheldon, Gardener	Decline	The mark of Jane Downes, Grandaughter to the deceased, Ashford	1838, March 28

5. Baptism entry in parish register of Holy Trinity, Ashford reads:
   

   When baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parent's Christian Name	Parent's Surname	Abode	Quality, Trade or Profession
   Oct 25 [1840]	Robert son of	Joseph & Mary	Sheldon	Ashford	Frame work knitter

6. Census of 7th June 1841 reads:
   Place: Ashford
   

   Joseph Sheldon	20	F W Knitter
   Mary Do	20	Do
   Jane Do	4
   Robert Do	1

7. Birth Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

   When and where born	Name	Sex	Name and surname of father	Name, surname and maiden surname of mother	Occupation of father	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
   sixteenth of August 1843 at Ashford	John	Boy	Joseph Sheldon	Mary Sheldon, formerly Howard	Framework Knitter	Mary Sheldon, Mother, Ashford	fifth of September 1843

8. Baptism entry in parish register of Holy Trinity, Ashford reads:
   

   When baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parent's Christian Name	Parent's Surname	Abode	Quality, Trade or Profession
   May 24 [1846]	Sarah Ann Daughter of	Joseph & Mary	Sheldon	Ashford	Labourer

9. Baptism entry in parish register of Holy Trinity, Ashford reads:
   

   When baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parent's Christian Name	Parent's Surname	Abode	Quality, Trade or Profession
   November 26 [1848]	James son of	Joseph & Mary	Sheldon	Ashford	Frame work knitter

10. Census of 30th March 1851 reads:
    Place: Gunners Lane, Ashford
    

    Joseph Sheldon	Head	Mar	34	Framework Knitter	[Derbys], [Ashford]
    Mary Sheldon	Wife	Mar	32	.	Hants, Stoke
    Robert do	Son	U	10	At Home	Derbys, Ashford
    John do	do	U	7	do	do, do
    Sarah do	daur	U	4	do	do, do
    James do	Son	U	2	do	do, do
    George do	do	U	1	do	do, do

11. Baptism entry in parish register of Holy Trinity, Ashford reads:
    

    private	When baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parent's Christian Name	Parent's Surname	Abode	Quality, Trade or Profession
    	April 17 [1851]	George	Joseph and Mary	Sheldon	Ashford	Frame work knitter
    	Received into church [......]

12. Death Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

    When and where died	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
    Twenty sixth February 1852 Ashford	John Sheldon	male	81 years	Framework Knitter	Old age, no medical attendant	The mark of John Sheldon, Present at the death, Ashford	Twenty seventh February 1852

13. Baptism entry in parish register of Holy Trinity, Ashford reads:
    

    When baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parent's Christian Name	Parent's Surname	Abode	Quality, Trade or Profession
    July 17 [1853]	Joseph son of	Joseph & Mary	Sheldon	Ashford	Frame - work knitter

14. Burial entry in parish register of Holy Trinity, Ashford reads:
    

    Name	Abode	When buried	Age
    Sarah Ann Sheldon	Ashford	June 1st [1854]	8

15. Baptism entry in parish register of Holy Trinity, Ashford reads:
    

    When baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parent's Christian Name	Parent's Surname	Abode	Quality, Trade or Profession
    Dec 26 [1858]	Henry son of	Joseph & Mary	Sheldon	Ashford	Labourer

16. Baptism entry in parish register of Holy Trinity, Ashford reads:
    

    When baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parent's Christian Name	Parent's Surname	Abode	Quality, Trade or Profession
    April 7 [1861]	Francis William son of	Joseph & Mary	Sheldon	Ashford	Labourer

17. Census of 7th April 1861 reads:
    Place: [Narrow] Lane, Ashford
    

    Joseph Sheldon	Head	Mar	44	Labourer Ag	[Derbys], Ashford
    Mary do	Wife	Mar	41	.	Hampshire, Stoke
    Jane do	daur	un	23	.	Derbys, Ashford
    Robert do	Son	un	20	Labourer M. Masons	do, do
    John do	Son	un	17	Marble Polisher	do, do
    James do	Son	un	12	Marble Polisher	do, do
    George do	Son	un	10	Scholar	do, do
    Joseph do	Son	un	7	.	do, do
    Thomas do	Son	un	4	.	do, do
    Henry do	Son	un	2	.	do, do
    Francis William do	Son	un	1 mo	.	do, do

18. Marriage Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

    1864 Marriage solemnized in the Independent Chapel, Bakewell in the District of Bakewell

    When married	Name and Surname	Age	Condition	Rank or Profession	Residence at the time of marriage	Father's name and Surname	Rank or Profession of father
    Twenty Second August 1864	John Sheldon	20 years	Bachelor	Labourer	Ashford	Joseph Sheldon	Gardener
    	Nancy Bramwell	20 years	Spinster		Cressbrook Litton	George Bramwell (deceased)	Joiner

    Married in the Independent Chapel Bakewell according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Wesleyan Methodists

    in the presence of William Harrison, Ann Jackson

19. Baptism entry in parish register of Holy Trinity, Ashford reads:
    

    When baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parent's Christian Name	Parent's Surname	Abode	Quality, Trade or Profession
    Sept 25 [1864]	Edward	Joseph & Mary	Sheldon	Ashford	Labourer

20. Census of 2nd April 1871 reads:
    Place: [Narrowdr] Lane, Ashford
    

    Joseph Sheldon	Head	Mar	54	Labourer	[Derbyshire], [Ashford]
    Mary do	Wife	Mar	51		Hamps, Stoke
    George do	Son	Unm	20	Marble Inlayer	Derbyshire, Ashford
    Joseph do	Son	Unm	17	Scholar	do, do
    Thomas do	Son		14	Marble Polisher	do, do
    Henry do	Son		12	Scholar	do, do
    Francis Wm do	Son		10	do	do, do
    Edward do	Son		6	do	do, do

21. Census of 3rd April 1881 reads:
    Place: Greaves Lane, Ashford
    

    Joseph Sheldon	Head	Mar	64	Genl labr	Derbyre, Ashford
    Mary do	Wife	Mar	61	-	Hamps, Stoke
    Joseph do	Son	unm	27	Genl labr	Derbys, Ashford
    Henry do	Son	unm	22	Marble Polisher	do, do
    William do	Son	unm	20	Genl labr	do, do
    Edward do	Son	unm	16	do     do	do, do

22. Death Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

    When and where died	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
    Eighth September 1888, Ashford	Joseph Sheldon	Male	72 years	Garden Labourer	Old age. Certified by Philip S Fentern	Joseph Sheldon, Son, Present at the death, Ashford	Twelfth September 1888

23. Death Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

    When and where died	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
    Twenty ninth August 1889, Ashford	Mary Sheldon	Female	69 years	Widow of Joseph Sheldon a General labourer	Old age. Certified by Philip S Fentern MD	Jane Grant; Daughter; Present at the death; Stoke, 'near Tideswell	Twenty ninth August 1889

Any bastardy papers relating to Jane in 1837?