JP and Chairman of Bexley Urban District Council 1909-1917.
George Adam Sheldon was born in 1855 in Bexley Heath, Kent, the eldest of the seven children of William Sheldon (1835-1887) and Martha Sheldon née Asker (1830-1913). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1855 in the Dartford registration district and he was baptised on 22 July 1855 in St Mary the Virgin Church, Bexley, Kent where the baptismal register shows the family living in Bexley Heath and that his father was a labourer.
In the 1861 census he is shown as a scholar living on the north side of Bexley Heath, Bexley with his parents and three sisters: Eliza Sheldon (1857-1944), Phillis Sheldon (1858-1861) and Martha Sheldon (1860-1861). His father was described as an agricultural labourer.
The 1871 census shows him residing at 66 Orchard Street, Plumstead, with his parents and four siblings: Eliza Sheldon, Selina Elizabeth Sheldon (1861-1953), William Sheldon (1863-1946) and Phillis Sheldon (b.1868). His father's occupation was recorded as a market gardener.
He was described as a farmer's son in the 1881 census that shows him living at Long Lane Farm, Long Lane, Bexley Heath, with his parents and three siblings: Selina, William and Phillis. His father was recorded as a farmer of 100 acres (employing 12 men) and fruit grower.
On 18 December 1883 he married Mabel Osborne (1865-1906) at Christ Church, Bexley, where the marriage register showed him to have been a market gardener living at Long Lane Farm, Bexley Heath, whilst his wife's address was recorded as Lion Road, Bexley Heath.
When the 1891 census was compiled he was shown as a farmer living in Long Lane, Bexley Heath, with his wife and their two children: Phillis Mabel Sheldon (1885-1967) and William Sheldon (1887-1920), whilst his widowed mother and two of his siblings: Selina and William, were living separately at No.1 Long Lane, Bexley Heath.
The 1901 census confirms that he was a farmer living at Long Lane Farm, Bexley with his wife, their two children and a female general domestic servant.
His wife died on 20 April 1906 and on 14 October 1907 he was remarried to Charlotte Elizabeth Nickells (1875-1929) at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, where the marriage register confirms he was a farmer and he gave his address as Buckingham Street, Westminster, whilst his wife was described as a spinster of St Martins Place, Westminster, the daughter of Ambrose Nickells, a licensed victualler.
When he completed his 1911 census return form he described himself as a farmer living in the eight roomed Long Lane Farm, Bexleyheath, with his wife and his daughter Phillis Mabel Sheldon, together with a female general domestic servant.
Probate records confirm that he resided at Hurstcroft, 42 Freta Road, Bexleyheath and that he died, aged 76 years, on 23 January 1932. He was buried on 27 January 1932 in Grave 1547 in Bexleyheath Cemetery, Banks Lane, Bexleyheath, DA6 7BH. Probate was granted on 4 May 1932 jointly to his brother William Sheldon who was also a farmer and to an Arthur James Flint who was a bank manager. His effects totalled £19,261-14s-10d.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.
