Holbrook line: Timothy Sheldon 1661-1744

 Timothy Sheldon is another of our Rhode Island ancestors, one of those who knew Roger Williams and other men who were more famous than Timothy.  We don't know as much about him as we would like but enough books have been written about Roger Williams, and about early Rhode Island, that we can think we understand a little of his world, anyway.  

Timothy was born March 29, 1661, in Providence, Rhode Island, the son of John and Joane Vincent Sheldon.  He lived and died in Providence Plantation, probably in what later became Johnston, although at the time it was considered part of Providence.  Timothy was the oldest known son of his parents, and as such, he was given the opportunity to learn a trade.  Timothy became a cooper, someone who made or repaired barrels and casks.  There would have been a demand for these products, as Providence had a decent harbor, and barrels used in transporting goods didn't last forever.  

Timothy married Sarah Balcom, daughter of Alexander and Jane Holbrook Balcom, before 1687, when the first of their four known children were born.  (Yes, Jane represents another Holbrook line. That line is complicated!)  He may have been either newly married or preparing to be married in 1685, when his father deeded about 60 acres of land to him.  Not much of it, if any, was cleared and ready to plant but it was still a generous gift, one that would help support Timothy and his young family as they grew.

There are a few tax records for Timothy but for the most part he stayed out of the public eye.  It may be Timothy, or perhaps his son, who was recorded as a member of the First Baptist Church in Providence in 1734.  Possibly Timothy had been raised with Baptist ideas, as they were common in Rhode Island, so it wouldn't surprise me at all to know that he was part of this congregation. 

I haven't found any military records for him, nor have I found a will.  There is a will for his son Timothy, who died in 1741.  Perhaps our Timothy followed his father's lead and gave his children land or money as the children came of age.  Timothy died about March 31, 1744 and it appears that Sarah died about the same time.  

Timothy was 83 years old when he died and he had lived a long life.  He was a teenager when King Philip's war broke out.  He knew many of the early great men of Rhode Island.  He would have heard many stories about the native Americans and of battles fought on land and sea with France, whether or not he actually served.  And perhaps most importantly for genealogical purposes, he raised a family, with one of his descendants being Mamie Doud  Eisenhower. 

The line of descent is:

Timothy Sheldon-Sarah Balcom

Martha Sheldon-Thomas Mathewson

Deborah Mathewson-Joseph Winsor

Lillis Winsor-Nathan Paine

Deborah Paine-Enos Eddy

Joseph Eddy-Susan Lamphire

Susan Eddy-Hiram Stanard

Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick

Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook

Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen

Their descendants