Elizabeth Margaretha Sheldon nee de Vaal

Born: 13 July 1860 (Source: The Sheldons of Paarl Family Bible) or 13 July 1858 (Source: Suid-Afrikaanse geslagregisters); according to Elizabeth's gravestone, she was 46 years old when she died.

Died: 18 May 1906 (Source: Elizabeth's gravestone, eGGSA Library)

Elizabeth was christened on 22 August 1858 in Kruisvallei (Source: Suid-Afrikaanse geslagregisters).

Elizabeth Margaretha de Vaal married a trader, Johannes Frederik de Villiers (b.1848), in the Cape on 14 March 1878. Johannes, a descendant of Jacob de Villiers of Frankfurt (b.1661), died on 14 October 1878 "behind Paarl", eight months after his marriage. (Source: The Genealogy of the De Villiers Family in South Africa, Ancestry24.co.za).

Elizabeth, after she was married, wrote a Will; due to Johannes death it was filed in the same year. (Source: National Archives of South Africa)Before Johannes died, Elizabeth became pregnant; she gave birth to a son on 22 January 1879, four months after Johannes' death. The son was named John Frederick de Villiers, after his father. (Source: The Sheldons of Paarl Family Bible)Elizabeth re-married in Paarl on 2 October 1879 to Thomas Sheldon jnr. (Source: The Genealogy of the De Villiers Family in South Africa, Ancestry24.co.za) The date is confirmed in the Sheldons of Paarl Family Bible.Elizabeth died on 18 May 1906; she is buried alongside her son, John de Villiers, in Old Hof Street, Paarl. Her gravestone reads: "Sacred to the Memory of Bessie, beloved wife of Thomas Sheldon. Died May 18th 1906, aged 46 years." (Source: eGGSA Library)

Children with Johannes Frederik de Villiers

John Frederick de Villiers (b. 22 January 1879 - d. 6 September 1887)

Children with Thomas Sheldon

Alicedale Sheldon (b. 10 September 1880)

Thomas Alfred Sheldon (b. 5 March 1882)

Gilbert Percy Sheldon (b. 11 April 1883)

Edith Mabel Sheldon (b. 29 January 1885)

Cecil Stanley Sheldon (b. 4 July 1886)

Algernon Victor Sheldon (b. 6 March 1888)