John Sheldon lived in Deerfield, Massachusetts, where he was one of the original settlers. He was a selectman and military man. During the 1704 attack on the town by French soldiers from Canada and their Indigenous allies, Sheldon's wife and youngest child were killed, and three of his children and his daughter-in-law were captured. Three times between 1704 and 1707, Sheldon went to Canada to retrieve captives. He brought home 113, including his son's wife. His captured children were all eventually redeemed as well.
On April 5, 1710, the estate of Henry Wolcott (1643-1709) of Windsor, Connecticut, "Dooe thare fore sell unto him the sd John Sheldin a negro lad Called Lundun of a bout foreteen years of age, by the best account wee Can come at, Which sd negrow rode behind sd John Sheldin towards Dearefeild on the last day of march in the yeare 1710-" (from the bill of sale) John Sheldon (1658-1733), then of Deerfield, Massachusetts, paid 45 pounds for Lundun "in province bills."
Sometime after 1710, Sheldon moved to Hartford, Connecticut, where he enslaved seven more people.
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