ABSTRACT
Raphe Sheldon was born about 1537, the son of William Sheldon of Beoley, Worcestershire, and his wife, Mary. She was the daughter of William Willington, a wealthy wool merchant of Barcheston in Warwickshire. William Sheldon was one of those to whom Leicester turned for loans. He made his will on 3 January 1569/70, and died on the following 23 December. He was buried in Beoley church on 15 January 1570/1. Apart from his houses in the Midlands, Sheldon seems to have had a home in London. Sheldon's public offices included those of Member of Parliament for Worcestershire, and High Sheriff of the county. When a Catholic plot was uncovered in 1594, the confessions of other people appeared to implicate Sheldon. Sheldon's wife Anne died in 1603. He afterwards became the fourth husband of Jane, the widow of Sir Thomas Tasborough.
