Family of Edwin P

Family of Edwin P. Wheeler
(This person can be viewed within the Melton/Sharp Ancestry Chart by clicking here)

1. EDWIN P.⁹ WHEELER (PHINEAS⁸, SHEPPARD⁷, SHEPARD⁶, THOMAS⁵, ISAAC⁴, ISAAC³, THOMAS², THOMAS¹)¹ was born August 15, 1817 in North Stonington, New London Co., CT, and died December 26, 1886 in Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., MA. He married LYDIA UNKNOWN. She was born Abt. 1815 in New York and died February 14, 1865. Both EDWIN & LYDIA are buried at Hulburt Square in Fairmount Cemetery, Lee, MA.

SCRAPBOOK

Born in Connecticut where he spent his childhood, he moved with his parents to the Berkshire County area of Massachusetts sometime between 1830 and 1840.
In 1840, young Edwin appears on the census roles living with his wife Lydia, in Pittsfield, MA. Ten years later, Edwin and Lydia had moved to Chatham NY where they are shown on the 1850 census. That census shows that their children, Eliza, at age 9, Lucy, 8, and Flora (shown as Clara), 2.
From that census, it seems likely that Edwin and Lydia were married about 1840, either in New York where she was born, or Massachusetts where they lived apparently for a short period after their marriage. By the time of Lucy's birth in 1843 they had moved to New York. However, by 1848, they had returned to Massachusetts, and were living in Lee where Flora was born. By 1850, they again were living in New York, in the town of Chatham.
Thus, they moved back and forth between New York and Massachusetts every the course of several years. During those moves, they also seemed to relocate to different places within the two states. For example in Massachusetts they lived in Pittsfield in 1840, Lee in 1848, Lenox in 1856-1858, and again in Lee during the period of 1859- 9/1861 where Edwin enlisted in the Army. The family is shown living in Lee in the census roles of 1860, and a fourth daughter Margaret, aged 8, now appears with the family. Although the ages of the other children appear to be consistent (based on the date census' were taken), they are now all shown to have been born in MA. The two older daughters are shown to be employed as teachers.
It was unusual for an older man of his age to volunteer for service in the Civil War, particularly when two of his daughters were then still under the age of 13.
Information of Edwin's later life is best summarized in his 1881 Invalid Affidavit, which says that he continued living in Lee until 1865. Then he moved to Stockbridge, MA, where he remained until 1879, spending a part of each year with his brother who lived in Stephentown, NY. (To provide a perspective as to the distances between the various towns in NY and MA referenced above, they are all very close together, in fact, the more distant towns are within about 23 miles apart). In 1879, he moved in with his brother and their family, returning frequently to Stockbridge to be with friends. He died in Stockbridge in 1886.

Notes for EDWIN P. WHEELER:

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COLUMBIA COUNTY, NY CENSUS DATA ON PAGE 704 FOR THE TOWN OF CHATHAM - 8/5/1850

Hs#; Fm#; Persons Name; Age; Occup. Birthplace Attending School

209; 228; Wheeler, Edwin P. 31 Trader Connecticut

Wheeler, Lydia 35 New York Yes

Wheeler, Eliza E. 9 New York Yes

Wheeler, Lucy 8 New York

Wheeler, Clara (sic) 2 Massachusetts

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BERKSHIRE COUNTY, MA CENSUS DATA ON PAGE 704 FOR THE TOWN OF LEE - 7/24/1860

Hs#; Fm#; Persons Name; Age; Occup.; Land Value; Personal; Birthplace

182; 231; Wheeler, Edwin P. 41 Laborer - $150 Connecticut

Wheeler, Lydia 43 Keep House New York

Wheeler, Eliza E. 18 Teacher Massachusetts

Wheeler, Lucy A. 17 Teacher Massachusetts

Wheeler, Flora L. 11 Massachusetts

Wheeler, Margaret 8 Massachusetts

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Information link for Civil War activities of the 27th MA Vol Inf: <http://www.fitzware.com/mass27th/company.htm>

"The 27th Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. was raised in the western counties of Massachusetts by Horace C. Lee of Springfield, who became its colonel. The companies reported at Camp Reed, Springfield, between the 19th and 24th of September, and three quarters of the regiment had been mustered in by September 27. On November 2 the regiment entrained for Annapolis, Md., where it arrived on the 5th. January 9, 1862, as a part of Foster's Brigade, Burnside's Coast Division, it embarked with the Burnside expedition to North Carolina. It was engaged with loss at Roanoke Island, Feb. 8, and with greater loss at Newbern, March 14.

In May, 1862, Burnside's force was organized into three divisions, the 27th becoming a part of Stevenson's (2d) Brigade, Foster's (1st) Division. Expeditions or reconnaissance were made to Batchelder's Creek, Trenton, Washington, and almost to Tarboro during the summer and fall."

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Civil War Service of Edwin P. Wheeler (September 18, 1861 - August 23, 1862:

9/18/1861 - Joined Co. E, 27th MA Infantry Regiment, age:42, Occupation: Teamster, Residence: Lee, MA .

10/17/1861- Wounded while on duty unloading baggage at a wharf at Hudson, NY. He received a fractured skull from being hit over the head with the butt of a musket by John King, another man in his outfit. John King's motives were said to be plunder and theft. After his wound healed, Edwin returned to normal duty.

3/1862 - In charge of the herds at Hatteras Island, he contacted "bronchitis". As a result of this illness he "lost flesh and strength", leaving him in a condition (according to Doctors) where "it is unlikely he will ever be serviceable".

8/23/1862: - Discharged for disabilities. His physical description was given on Discharge Certificate. It states that he was 5'7" light complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair.

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1870 - Edwin is shown in the Berkshire Co., MA census in the town of Stockbridge living in the house of Abigail Rathbun and her four sons. None of his children appear with him. With the youngest being 18 years of age, it is very possible that his children (all girls) had left home and possibly already were married.

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1880 - Edwin was found on the census rolls of both Stockbridge, Berkshire Co, MA and Stephentown, Rensselaer Co, NY.

On page 8 of the census for Stephentown in Rensselaer Co., NY Edwin is living in the house of his brother Thomas and their family. Information from this census shows that both parents of Thomas and Edwin were born in CT, and also corroborates the fact that Edwin is either a widower or divorced.

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Edwin's pension record was obtained from the National Archives providing a number of facts, including:

Residence 1858 Lenox, Berkshire County, MA

Residence 1859-1865 Lee, Berkshire Co., MA

Residence 1865-1879 Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., MA, but spent several months per year with brother in Stephentown Centre, Rensselaer Co, NY

Residence 1879-1881 with brother in Stephentown Centre, Rensselaer Co, NY, but often visits friends in Stockbridge, Berkshire Co, MA.

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Rensselaer County, New York Pension Rolls of 1885

NAME: Wheeler, Edwin P.

POST OFFICE ADDRESS: Garfield

REASON FOR PENSION: injury to head and rheumatism

MONTHLY RATE: $12.00

DATE OF ORIGINAL ALLOWANCE: July 1882 (215,477)

Acquired from <http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyrensse/pension4.htm>

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A copy of Edwin's death certificate was obtained from which his birth and death date and location, as well as the cause of death, has been ascertained. The death certificate also shows the town of Lee as the location of Edwin's disposition, which is his burial location.

Most importantly, the death certificate lists his parents as Phinia and Eunice (Brown) Wheeler. This, along with the birth location of North Stonington, clearly connects Edwin to the North Stonington line, and reaffirms that Phineas Wheeler married Eunice Brown.

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More About EDWIN P. WHEELER:

Burial: Lee, Berkshire Co., MA

Cause of Death: paralysis of the Brain

Census 1: 1860, Lee, Berkshire Co, MA - pg 704²

Census 2: 1840, Pittsfield, Berkshire Co, MA roll176 pg199a³

Census 3: 1850, pg 44 - Chatham, Columbia Co, NY⁴

Census 4: 1860, Lee, Berkshire Co, MA

Census 5: 1865, Lee, Berkshire Co, MA

Census 6: 1870, Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., MA, Roll 602, pg20⁵

Census 7: 1880, Stephentown, Rensselaer Co, NY pg8⁶ (shown both in Stephentown & Stockbridge)

Census 8: 1880, Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., MA⁷ (shown both in Stephentown & Stockbridge)

Medical Information: 10/1861 Fractured skull3/1862 Bronchitis (possibly rheumatic fever)by 1865 Headaches & dizzinessby 1879 Rhuemitism & heart diseaseby 1881 Softening of the brain

MILI: Military 1: Bet. September 18, 1861 - August 23, 1862, Co E, MA 27th Inf - Teamster

MILI: Military 2: Bet. July 01 - August 23, 1862, Newberne, North Carolina

MILI: Military 3: March 1862, Hatteras Island, North Carolina

Occupation 1: 1860, Laborer

Occupation 2: 1840, Agriculture

Occupation 3: 1850, Trader (horses?)

Occupation 4: 1861, Teamster

Residence 1: 1885, Garfield, Rensselaer County, NY

Residence 2: 1848, Lee, Berkshire County, MA

Residence 3: 1858, Lenox, Berkshire County, MA

Residence 4: Bet. 1859 - 1865, Lee, Berkshire County, MA

Residence 5: Bet. 1865 - 1879, Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., MA

Residence 6: Bet. 1879 - July 10 1882, Stephentown Centre, Rensselaer Co., NY

Residence 7: Bet. June 12, 1883 - June 15, 1885, Garfield, Rensselaer Co., MA

Residence 8: December 04, 1886, Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., MA

Notes for LYDIA UNKNOWN:

Census 1: 1860, Lee, Berkshire Co, MA - pg 704⁸

Census 2: 1850, Chatham, Columbia Co, NY - p44⁹

Children of EDWIN WHEELER and LYDIA UNKNOWN are:

i. ELIZA E.¹⁰ WHEELER, b. Abt. 1841, NY m. Philetus Davis White,1863 in Lee, Berkshire Co., MA

More About ELIZA E. WHEELER:

Census 1: 1860, Lee, Berkshire Co, MA - pg 704¹⁰

Census 2: 1850, pg 44 - Chatham, Columbia Co, NY¹¹

Census 3: 1870-1910, Owosso, Shiawassee Co., MI

Census 4: 1920, Glen Haven City, Ottawa Co., MI

Occupation: 1860, Teacher

ii. LUCY ANNE WHEELER, b. Jan 16, 1842, NY; d. Jan 15, 1931, 1421 So. Lake St., Ft. Worth, Tarrant Co., TX; m. (1) JULIAN? BARDEN, 1866-1868, NY or MA; b. abt Nov 1844, NY or MA, d. Sep 2, 1870, Ithaca, Tompkins Co., NY; m. (2) LIEUT BRADLEY LYMAN TERRY¹², 1871-1879; b. Apr 26, 1842, NY; d. Dec 1, 1923, 1421 So Lake St., Ft. Worth, Tarrant Co, TX.

iii. FLORA L. WHEELER, b. Mar 20, 1848, Lee, Berkshire Co., MA.

Census 1: 1860, Lee, Berkshire Co, MA - pg 704¹⁰

Census 3: 1870, Owosso, Shiawassee Co., MI

Notes for FLORA L. WHEELER:

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Birth record "_____, d. Edwin and Lydia, Mar. 20, 1848." in Lee, Berkshire County, MA. (would be birthdate of Clara/Flora)

from: <http://www.rootsweb.com/~maberksh/towns/lee/lee-sz.html>

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In the 1860 census, "Flora L" appears in this family in place of "Clara". I believe that both names are for the same person and one was either misspelled or they decided to change her name.

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More About FLORA L. WHEELER:

Census 1: 1860, Lee, Berkshire Co, MA - pg 704²⁶

Census 2: 1850, pg 44 - Chatham, Columbia Co, NY²⁷

iv. MARGARET WHEELER, b. Abt. 1852, Massachusetts.

More About MARGARET WHEELER:

Census: 1860, Lee, Berkshire Co, MA - pg 704²⁸

Census3: 1870, Owosso, Shiawassee Co., MI