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Born: 3 July, 1872, Chorlton, Manchester, England (Source: "Biographical History of Gonville and Caius College 1349-1897" by John Venn; and Neale Sheldon, Sheldon Family History) or 1873 (Source: FamilySearch.org)
Died: 16 June 1962, East London, South Africa (Source: "Obituary", pg.266, 28 July 1962, British Medical Journal; and "The Benevolent Fund" (PDF), 4 August 1962, Vol. XXXVI, South African Medical Journal)
Hugh Frederick Sheldon was the son of John Henry Sheldon, a cotton trade salesman, and Ann Sheldon.
In 1881, Hugh was living with his parents and siblings at 6 Birch Polygon, Rusholme, Lancashire. (Source: 1881 British Census, FamilySearch.org)
"Educated at Manchester Grammar School. Admitted 1 October 1890. Entrance Scholar (Nat. Science) Mids 1890 to Mids 1891. Resided four terms. Medical student, Manchester Royal Infirmary." (Source: "Biographical History of Gonville and Caius College 1349-1897" by John Venn)
"Like his brother, John Henry Sheldon (see below), Sheldon gained his medical education at Owens College. He was assistant health officer to the Union of South Africa and medical officer of health to Ladybrand. In 1917, he was registrar to the 1st Western General Hospital in 1917, before settling in Cape Province." (Source: John Rylands University Library, University of Manchester)
After qualifying to study medicine in Manchester in 1900, Hugh came to South Africa and served in the Boer War. (Source: "Obituary", pg.266, 28 July 1962, British Medical Journal)
Casus-Belli.co.uk does list two H. Sheldon's serving in medical capacities:
Sheldon, H, Orderly, No.626, St. John's Ambulance Brigade
Sheldon, H, Sergeant, No.13755, Army Medical Corps, Royal
Hugh married Mary Warrington on 1 April 1903 in Durban, Natal, South Africa. (Source: "Natal Marriages 1903", Rootsweb.com, and Mary Sheldon's Estate Papers, Cape Town Archives) The John Rylands University Library of the University of Manchester has a record on Hugh's 1903 marriage.
Brian Sheldon, son of Hugh and Mary Sheldon, was born c.1904 in Potchefstroom, South Africa. (Source: Neale Sheldon, Sheldon Family History, and Brian Sheldon's Estate Papers)
In 1907, Hugh Frederick Sheldon was a District Surgeon in Ladybrand as well as a Justice of the Peace. (Source: "List of Civil Servants and Justices of the Peace in the Orange River Colony (later the Orange Free State) in 1907", GenealogyWorld.net)
In 1909, "HF Sheldon" applied for "a transfer to a different colony". (Source: National Archives of South Africa)
During the First World War, Hugh served as a Major in the Royal Army Medical Corps. (Source: "Obituary", pg.266, 28 July 1962, British Medical Journal; and Records of the Borough of Leicester) An H.F. Sheldon served as Captain with the R.A.M.C., according to The War List of the University of Cambridge 1914-1918.
Around 1908 - 1926, Hugh Frederick Sheldon was an Assistant Health Officer for the Union (Source: The South African Medical Record (1926) | Google Book Search); according to records in the National Archives of South Africa, "HF Sheldon" was nominated to this position in 1920 until 1928.
In 1920, "HF Sheldon" was nominated "to be a member of the Medical and Pharmacy Council of the Orange Free State". (Source: National Archives of South Africa)
In the 1922-1923, Vol.XVII of Science Progress in the Twentieth Century, Dr. H.F. Sheldon of Umtata, South Africa, wrote a letter to the Editor regarding the Bantu races, dated 23 May 1922. (Source: "Science Progress" | Archive.org ; see below)
The Bantu Races
From Dr. H. F. Sheldon
To the Editor of Science Progress
Dear Sir, — In No. 64 of Science Progress for April 1922 it is stated,
on the top line of page 571, by Mr. A. G. Thacker, that the Bantu races
reached South Africa after the white man.
J. A. Mitchell has shown that there is evidence that typhus has existed
among the natives of South Africa for many years — they are quite familiar
with it under the name of Ifiva Mnyama, or Black-tongued Fever — and about
a thousand cases a month are now known.
Considering the prevalence of typhus before the last century, it would be
very unlikely that Whites did not introduce the disease to South Africa.
The Bantu is inclined to blame the white man for intruding into his
peaceful home and for infecting him with typhus.
The statement of Mr. Thacker would indicate that the Bantu asked for
trouble in displacing the Bushman. Are there any parallel records of the
position of the Whites and Bantu from the earliest times ?
In addressing the " Bunga," or native parliament, on the subject of typhus
I quoted Mr. Thacker's statement that the Bantu was a later comer to S.A.
than the white man, but encountered considerable scepticism.
The point is, what is the exact meaning of " S.A." as used by Mr. Thacker ?
Yours, etc.,
H. F. Sheldon.
Umtata, South Africa,
May 23rd, 1922.
Ancestorsonboard.com has a 1924 record for a "Hugh Fredk. Sheldon", arriving at the Cape from Liverpool, England; if this is the same man it is unknown why his date of birth, given as 1876, would differ so significantly from those given by the 1881 England Census and John Venn (see above).In 1925, Hugh published a paper on leprosy (PDF) in the South African Medical Record. 1933 - Hugh Frederick Sheldon was given a medical position at the East Rand Proprietary Mines, during the absence on leave of Dr. A. B. Dodd (Source: Passing Events - April 22, 1933 )Sometime between the late 1920s and late 1940s, Hugh "lived in Maclear, Cape Province, where he had a dispensary for Africans and started farming." (Source: "Obituary", pg.266, 28 July 1962, British Medical Journal)Hugh's farm was Glen Farm (Thomson), Maclear, South Africa, where he farmed with his son, Brian, until Brian's death in 1947. The farm had 191 head of cattle, 36 cows and 36 calves. (Source: Brian Sheldon's Estate Papers, Cape Town Archives)Sheldon and Son (Hugh and Brian) owned £210 worth of shares in Maclear (Co-operative) Ltd. (Source: Brian Sheldon's Estate Papers, Cape Town Archives)10 Shares in the Farmers Co-operative Wool & Produce Union, Ltd., East London, were registered in the name of "Sheldon and Son". (Source: Brian Sheldon's Estate Papers, Cape Town Archives).On 10 October 1947, following Brian's death a few months earlier, Hugh sold Thomson Farm to the Potgieter Brothers. (Source: Brian Sheldon's Estate Papers, Cape Town Archives)On 17 December 1947, in Brian Sheldon's Estate Papers, Hugh signed himself as of Berlin, Cape Town.Hugh and his farm seem to be briefly mentioned in G. Tylden's 1954 book The Armed Forces of South Africa: "Dr. Sheldon, the present owner of the farm where the fight took place, states that even to-day the natives speak of the crushing defeat they sustained there." Hugh was apparently asked to consult on a South African National Health Service; his name was published in a report titled "Committee of Inquiry - National Health Insurance" in the 1935 South African Journal of Economics - see Blackwell-Synergy.com and Google Book Search. Hugh was a member of the Departmental Commission on National Health Insurance. (Source: "Obituary", pg.266, 28 July 1962, British Medical Journal) In 1948, a Hugh Frederick Sheldon is listed as living at 7 Beach Road, Nahoon, East London.
Mary Sheldon, Hugh's wife, died 22 April 1958 in Frere Hospital, East London, South Africa. (Mary Sheldon's Estate Papers, Cape Town Archives)
In 1961, Hugh was retired at Stirling Lodge (an old age home), East London, South Africa (Source: The Medical Directory | Google Book Search )
Hugh Frederick Sheldon died on 16 June 1962 in East London, aged 90. (Source: "Obituary", pg.266, 28 July 1962, British Medical Journal)
In June 1962, a "votive card in memory" of Hugh was made to "The Benevolent Fund" by the Border Coastal Branch (M.A.S.A) in the South African Medical Journal. (Source: "The Benevolent Fund" (PDF), 4 August 1962, Vol. XXXVI, South African Medical Journal)
In July 1962, an "Obituary" for Hugh Frederick Sheldon was published in the British Medical Journal. (Source: "Obituary", pg.266, 28 July 1962, British Medical Journal)
Children
Brian Sheldon (born: c.1904)
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