Person:Abijah Wheeler (4)

The records on Abijah are scanty, and the proposed genealogy is tied together by much circumstantial evidence. But there is enough there to suggest this is correct.

Wheeler Family in America

Source:Wheeler, Albert Gallatin. Genealogical and Encyclopedic History of the Wheeler Family in America, appears to have three separate entries describing this single person, and still doesn't show all the details that are available.

p. 150: Children of Josiah Wheeler and Mary Lee: #2063 "Abijah Wheeler, born Sept. 18, 1751, who may have married Dec. 7, 1773 Mary Hayward. (He may be No. 12,230)."

Part 2, p. 707: "12230. Abijah Wheeler. There is a possibility that his is No. 2063. Married Abigail ---." Children, b. Concord: Artimes, b. 7 Mar 1774; Nabby b. 10 Sep 1775.

Part 2, p. 707: "12233. Abijah Wheeler. Married at Temple, N.H., May 31, 1784, Hepzibah Blood, dau. of General Blood. He lived at Temple, N.H., where he was a "taverner" and was known as "Landlord Wheeler". He was on the Building Committee in 1781. He was a Captain, 1789; Major, 1795; colonel, 1798. He had a son: 12234. Artemas Wheeler, who ran the tavern from 1795 until 1812, when he failed and removed to Lansinburgh, N.Y."

Most of the details for the last entry appear to come straight from Source:Blood, Henry Ames. History of Temple, N.H, where Abijah and Artemas are mentioned prominently in the early history of the town, but for whom a family genealogy is never provided. This is presumably because Artemas left town, so no family member was around to subscribe and/or provide details.

Tolman

Source:Wheeler Families of Old Concord, Massachusetts is always worth consulting though its brevity and narrowness of focus are limiting. As noted on Person:Abijah Wheeler (6), he appears to have allocated the marriage of Mary Hayward ("Heywood" as he spells it) to an Abijah Wheeler who had already died. He gives no details on this marriage, such as date or number of children.. Regarding this Abijah, s/o Josiah, he gives a marriage to Abigail --- and secondly to Catherine. His son Artemas of Temple, N.H., was made Adm'r of his estate, leaving a daughter Hepzibeth, a minor who had a guardian assigned to her in 1813, as well as Nabby b. 1775.

Records

Creating the Mary vs. Abigail controversy, from Source:Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1635-1850

p. 237: Abijah Wheeler & Mary Hayward Both of Concord was Joined in Marrage by Tho's Whiting Esq Dec. 7. 1773

p. 240: Artimes Wheeler Son of Abijah Wheeler and abigail[???] his wife was Born March ye 7th 1774.

p. 240: Nabby Wheeler Daughter of Abijah Wheeler and Abigail[???] his wife was Born September ye 10. 1775.

Answer to the controversy, part 1: two sisters, from same source:

p. 189: Mary Hayward ye Daughter of Joseph hayward & Abigail his wife was Born January 19 1753 [18 Jan in dup. on p. 192]

p. 187: Abigail Hayward Dau'r of Joseph Hayward & Abigail his wife was Born Septem'r 22'd 1748

p. 237: William Horsley of westminster & Abigail Hayward of Concord was Married by John Cuming Esq'r July ye 10. 1771.

Answer to the controversy, part 2, confirmation of the right answer by an independent recorder, from Source:Massachusetts, United States. Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915 (see here, line 6 for full entry)

Death of Mary M. Perry in 1863, age almost 80, so born about 1783, in Temple, NH, listing parents as Abijah & Mary Wheeler, both parents born in Concord.

3rd marriage, from Source:Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Woburn Records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages

Vol. 3,p. 299: Col. Abijah Wheeler of Temple, N.H., and Mrs. Catharine Wyman of Woburn, May 3, 1798.

Vol. 2, p. 84: "Erected In Memory of Col. Abijah Wheeler, who died Dec. 28, 1812, Aet. 66" [born about 1746]

Conclusion

Clearly the birth records of Artimes and Nabby, calling the mother Abigail, have confused things, but the records above should show clearly that Abijah married Mary Hayward, possibly confused with either her sister or mother. Thus Wheeler was right in supposing his #2063 and #12230 are the same. But how he did not realize he was the same as 12233 is surprising. Clearly the son Artemas whom he says took over the tavern in 1795 must have been born prior to his 1784 marriage to Hepzibah Blood, and thus identifies the Abijah of Temple as the Abijah of Concord. Then the remarriage to Mrs. Catherine Wyman is clearly the man from Temple, and Tolman's information about Artemas as his administrator ties it all together. Tolman, with his focus on Concord, is severely damaged by being unaware of Weston records, which show the other Abijah had died, and unaware of Temple records, which show the marriage to Hepzibah Blood and explain a minor daughter named Hepzibah in his probate (use of which is one of Tolman's strengths).

It appears there are additional children: one, Mary Perry is cited, but there are signs of a Dorothy (i.e., here), and possibly others as well.

Abijah Wheeler, b. 1751, m. (1) 1773 Mary Hayward, children: Artemas 1774, Abigail 1775, Dorothy 1777, Mary 1783, others; m. (2) 1784 Hepzibah Blood, children: Hepzibah after 1795 to be a minor in 1813? others?; m. (3) 1798 Catherine (--) Wyman, d. 1812.

1. ↑ Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1635-1850. (Boston: Beacon Press, 1891)
   180.

   Abijah Wheeler ye son of Josiah Wheeler & Mary his wife was Born September 18. 1751.

2. ↑ Johnson, Edward F. Woburn Records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages . (Woburn, Massachusetts: Andrews, Cutler & Co., 1890-1919)
   Vol. 2,p. 84.

   Epitaphs, Second Burial Ground
   Erected In Memory of Col. Abijah Wheeler, who died Dec. 28, 1812, Aet. 66.