Family of Thomas Wheeler

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1. SR. THOMAS¹ WHEELER was born Abt. 1567 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England, and died Aft. 1614 in England.

Notes for SR. THOMAS WHEELER:

FIFTY GREAT MIGRATION COLONISTS TO NEW ENGLAND AND THEIR ORIGINS, by John Brooks Threlfall, 1990.

Thomas Wheeler of "the Town End," Cranfield, Bedfordshire, probably born about 1567-77. His last child was baptized in 1614, and with this entry he disappears from the parish records. He could have been one of the Thomas Wheelers buried at Cranfield on 2 Oct & 8 Oct 1643. His father could have been Henry, son of John, son of Thomas. Herny was born about 1535 or 1540, perhaps at Cranfield, where he died in 1577. He married Isabel ____.

The will of Henry Wheler (sic) of Cranfield, dated 9 July 1577, names his wife, Isabel; sons John and Thomas and daughter Allice. Will proved, 11 Oct 1577. [See page 500 for will abstract.]

Children of SR. THOMAS WHEELER are:

i. ELIZABETH² WHEELER.

More About ELIZABETH WHEELER:

Baptism: February 27, 1610/11, Warley in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England

ii. RICHARD WHEELER.

More About RICHARD WHEELER:

Baptism: June 13, 1614, Warley in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England

iii. THOMAS WHEELER ^1,2, b. 1602, England; d. March 06, 1685/86, Stonington, New London Co., CT; m. (1) PENELOPE NICHOLS; m. (2) MARY UNKNOWN, 1645, Lynn, Essex Co, Massachusetts; b. England; d. 1680, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

iv. GEORGE WHEELER, b. March 25, 1605, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England; d. June 02, 1687, Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.

Notes for GEORGE WHEELER:

Source: Ancestral File; The American Genealogist, Vol. 14; The Wheeler Family--Descendants of George Wheeler of Concord, Mass., compiled by Henry Warren Wheeler (film 1,321,124); Fifty Great Migration Colonists to New England and Their Origins by John Brooks Threlfall; Daines family research.

Fifty: George Wheeler, baptized 23 March 1605/6 at Cranfield, Bedfordshire, the son of Thomas Wheeler of "the Town End" who disappears from the parish register after the baptism of his last child in 1614. George married Catherine Pin (or Penn or Pinge?) 8 June 1630. With three children they emigrated to Concord, Mass., where George appears in the town records of 1638 and every year thereafter until 1684. Perhaps he was there as early as 1636 when the town was first settled. His will was dated 28 Jan. 1684/5 aand probated 2 July 1687.

Am. Genealogist, 14/1: Thomas Wheeler, the elder, had a son George but he was not named in his will--presumably because he died young. Therefore, the father of George of Concord cannot be placed.

Wheeler Family: George Wheeler was in Concord in 1638 because he was named in the first year's records of the town. It is not unlikely that he was among the first settlers in 1635. Thomas Wheeler, apparently not George's father, did not arrive until 1639. George was educated; his signature was on many documents. He was a selectman in 1660, was wealthy, owning much land. His will was dated in January 1685 and offered for probate 2 June 1687. He married Katherine __________, and they had eight children, five being born in England. Mary, the youngest, was born 6 Sept. 1645 and married Eliphalet Fox 26 Oct. 1665. (Looks like the first Mary, who apparently died young, was overlooked).

Am. Genealogist, 14/131: George Wheeler Sr. of Concord, Mass. Will dated 28 Jan. 1684. Signed by mark (doesn't jibe with above re being educated, unless he too frail to write). John Wheeler, son, named administrator 8 June 1687. Will mentions sons Thomas, John and the late William Wheeler, daughters Elizabeth Fletcher, Sarah Dudley, Ruth Hartwell and Hannah Fletcher and "Daughter ffoxes Children..." This adds up to nine children, compared to eight listed in The Wheeler Family.

AF records have two fathers for George Wheeler: Thomas (RIN 1030 and William (RIN 1039). Both seem to be in error.

More About GEORGE WHEELER:

Christening: March 25, 1605, Warley In Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England

v. JOHN WHEELER³, b. Bef. October 24, 1608, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England; d. Bef. December 27, 1611, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England.

Notes for JOHN WHEELER:

More About JOHN WHEELER:

Burial: December 27, 1611

Christening: October 23, 1608

Endnotes

1. Wheeler, Albert Gallatin 1875-, The genealogical & encyclopedic history of the Wheeler family in America, (Boston, MA - American College of Genealogy), page 290.

2. Eric E Schultz & Michael J. Touglias, King Phillip's War - The History & Legacy of America's forgotten conflict, Excerpts from Thomas Wheeler's diary are found in this book that describe some of the action he encountered during this war.

3. Threlfall, John Brooks, Fifty Great Migration Colonists to New England and Their Origins, (1990), John Wheeler, baptized 23 Oct. 1608, buried 27 Dec. 1611.