Buried

Many of the old Sheldon trees start here with Ralph (or Rauffe) Sheldon of Rowley Regis in Staffordshire. Little is known about him. The Bigland Sheldon Pedigree (BSP) starts here, although calls him Richard. The name of Ralph's wife is not given. There are two sons Richard and Maurice (or Morris). No dates are given, the first time a date is mentioned in the BSP is with Ralph's grandson, John Sheldon of Rowley Regis and Abberton.

Barnard (1936) does not mention this Ralph. Pearson (1989) says "The family originated in Sheldon in Warwickshire and moved to Rowley in Staffs" He agrees that Ralph is the first known Sheldon and he had two sons Richard and Maurice. The Heraldy of Worcestershire also starts with Richard, but the Visitation (1888) starts with Raffe. The Toke-Nichols pedigree gives no name for this person who was the father of Richard and Maurice. On balance is seems that he was named Ralph (or Raufe) and not Richard.

Counting back from the first known dates, and assuming between 25 and 30 years per generation we arrive at a date of 1330 to 1350 for the birth of Ralph.