This Old Delhi Yarn is to commemorate a Veteran of the American Revolution, Job Sheldon, to celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary. Job Sheldon was born in Cranston, RI Jan 26, 1758 and died in Delhi, NY April 1, 1832. He married Hannah Crawford Tripe (1763-1831) on Sept 28, 1783 in Palatine, Montgomery Co, NY. Job Sheldon was 18 years old when the Revolution began. His war record includes his survival at the siege of Valley Forge, the defense of Forts Mifflin and Mercer, for which he was awarded the badge of honor from Gen. Washington, the Battle of Monmouth, he was a Sgt. of the Guard at the execution of the British spy, Major John Andre, and he was at the Battle of Yorktown when Cornwallis surrendered. Mr. Sheldon was a loyal patriot and continued to fight for his country when he joined the Army during the War of 1812.
In 1831, after his wife, Hannah, died, Mr. Sheldon came to Delhi to visit his eldest son, Crawford (1799-1859) and his wife, Abigail, née Moxham (1800-1881), where he died in 1832. Crawford and Abigail Sheldon were the parents of 6 boys and 3 girls. Their eldest son, Edwin Holmes Sheldon, (1821-1890), married Frances, née Ogden (1824-1870), daughter of Abraham Ogden, from Walton, NY. Edwin H. and Frances Sheldon’s eldest son, Edwin B. Sheldon (1849-1923), married Louisa Bruen Whitehouse (1843-1919). Edwin B. Sheldon was born in Chicago, IL. He was a real estate developer and brother in law to William B. Ogden, (1805-1877), First Mayor of Chicago. W.B. Ogden donated money to build the library in Walton, NY, which is named for him. Edwin B, known as EB, and Louisa had no children. They moved to Delhi from California and built the house they called Longwood, on the hill where Delaware Academy is now. The house burned in 1937 and Delhi School District bought the property in 1938. Edwin H. Sheldon hired an architect from Chicago, a friend of William B. Ogden, to design the beautiful round tower and wrought iron gate for the lychgate (roof) at the Orchard St entrance to Woodland cemetery. Edwin B. Sheldon had the Sheldon mausoleum erected in Woodland Cemetery in 1921 in memory of his beloved wife, Louisa. Many members of the Sheldon family are buried there. One of the many descendants of the Sheldon’s and the Whitehouse’s is Sheldon Whitehouse, United States Senator from Rhode Island.