Person:George Wheeler (2)

George Wheeler, of Wharley End
Duplicate parents - compare
m. 11 Feb 1601
  1. Elizabeth Wheeler1602 - Bef 1656
  2. Captain Timothy Wheeler1604 - 1687
  3. George Wheeler, of Wharley End1605/06 - Abt 1687
  4. Susanna Wheeler1607 - 1648/49
  5. John Wheeler1608 - Aft 1627
  6. Lieutenant Joseph Wheeler1609/10 - Aft 1678
  7. Abiah Wheeler1611/12 - 1637
  8. Mary WheelerBef 1615 -
  9. Sgt Ephraim Wheeler1618/19 - 1670
  10. Lieut/Capt. Thomas Wheeler1620 - 1676
Duplicate parents - compare
m. 13 Apr 1600
  1. Thomas Wheeler1603 - 1672
  2. George Wheeler, of Wharley End1605/06 - Abt 1687
  3. John Wheeler1608 - 1611
  4. Elizabeth Wheeler1610/11 -
  5. Richard Wheeler1614 - 1675/76
  • HGeorge Wheeler, of Wharley End1605/06 - Abt 1687
  • WKatherine Porter1609/10 - 1684/85
m. 8 Jun 1630
  1. William Wheeler1631 - 1683
  2. Thomas Wheeler1633 - Bef 1687
  3. Elizabeth Wheeler1635/36 - 1704
  4. Sarah Wheeler1640 - 1713
  5. John Wheeler1642/43 - 1713
  6. Mary Wheeler1645 - 1678/79
  7. Ruth WheelerBef 1647 - 1713
  8. Hannah WheelerBef 1655 - 1697
Facts and Events
Name[1][2] George Wheeler, of Wharley End
Gender Male
Christening[5] 23 Mar 1605/06 Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England
Marriage 8 Jun 1630 Cranfield, Bedford, Englandto Katherine Porter
Death? Abt 2 Jun 1687 Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States
Probate? 2 Jun 1687 Will Probated, Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts
Questionable information identified by WeRelate automation
To fix:Multiple sets of parents

Contents

Origins

TAG 14:1 sheds great doubt on George Wheeler of Concord being son of Thomas of Cranfield: “lack of mention of the son George in the will [of Thomas], which mentions every other surviving child by name, makes it doubtful whether this identification [that George of Concord was son of Thomas of Cranfield] can be sustained. If George son of Thomas ‘the elder’ died young, as now seems likely, we cannot at present place the parentage of George of Concord.”

Others claim he was George Wheeler, chr in Cranfield June 13, 1613 and that he was son of John Wheeler of Cranfield and therefore brother to Obadiah Wheeler. Citation needed

He m1 (supposedly) Mary Studd in 1628; she died in 1630.

He m2 Kathering Pin or Porter in 1631 with whom he emigrated to New England.

Life in New England

To Concord, Middlesex Co, Massachusetts in 1638; freeman of Concord, Massachusetts 2 Jun 1641; selectman.

Last Will & Testament

TAG 14:131-2 extracts his will:
George Wheeler, Sr., of Concord, Mass.:
Liber 10, folios 2 ff (original here)

Will of George Wheeler Sr. of Concord, Mass... Being of computant [sic] measure of memory [etc.]

First I will that my whole estate shall stand engaged and be responsible for my cumfortable maintenance in all respects Dureing the Terme of my Life...

I Will to my two sons Thomas Wheeler and John Wheeler my Mansion Dwelling house Barnes Cowhouses and Orchards... down to John Scotchfords house I give to my son Thomas And that part of my Lott Lyeing betweene Joshuah Wheeler and John Scotchford I give to my son John. I give to my two sons Thomas and John my six acres bought of Gershom Bulkeley Lyeing over the hills... Alsoe I give to my Sons Thomas and John my Twenty Eight Acres of Woodland lying in the North Quarter over the River...

I give to the Children of my son William Deceased as a legacy out of my Estate the sum of Sixty pounds seaven shillings to be paid to them By the Executors of this my Will in equall right of Propriety Onely my Will is that my Meadow att Brooke Meadow on both sides of the brooke excepting that part I give to my son Thomas as above... My one acre in Ash Swamp at ffaire haven... to be disposed of to my son Williams children.... Alsoe the two acres and an halfe Meadow joyning to my son Williams pasture, Itt is not my said son Williams But I will it to my Executors to administer upon it as my Estate...

To my won Thomas my piece of Meadow at Brooke Meadow joyning to John Wheelers meadow lyeing on the Northwest side of the Brooke... To my son John land... To Thomas & John... my part of the Holt in equall right.... To son John land att the south feild att the East side of the country way agt comyes house... To Thomas and John ffourty four acres Lyeing North of Walden pond.... To son Thomas my fourteen acres Lyeing on the South east of the South River joyning Nathaniell & John Billings... to my son John my six acres joyning to Daniel Dane southeast from Mountaber... to sons Thomas & John eight acres joyning to Mr. Fflints pond... to son John my foure acres in John Milles Pasture joying the south River... to sons Thomas & John out of my moveable estate ffive pounds a piece... to son Thomas Tenn pounds... in consideration that he is short of Brothers in receipt of portion I give to my Daughter ffoxes Children six pounds...

To my ffoure Daughters Eliza Ffletcher, Sarah Dudley, Ruth Hartwill and Hannah Ffletcher... fifteene pounds apeece.... to be paid to them in Concord Current peice Alsoe I will my reserve to my self during my Life... did beginn in year 1682 soe on the day of my death.... To sons Thomas & John land lying in the corner neere Water Towne Lyne... My will is noe Legacy shall be required untill two years after my death.... Two sons Thomas and John executors.

Dated 28 January 1684. Signed by mark. Witnesses:Samuel Merriam, Jonathan Hubard, and John Scotchford. Probate and administration granted to John Wheeler, son and surviving Executor, 8 June 1687.

Additional Sources

1. Parish Transcripts,Cranfield,Bedford,ENG (GS 845,460)

2. Wheeler Family in America by A G Wheeler (GS 1033616) http://books.google.com/books?id=hY5bAAAAMAAJ

3. The Wheeler Families of Old Concord, transcribed here: http://www.concordlibrary.org/scollect/Wheeler.htm

Discrepancies?

Archives copy has George Wheeler Married twice. There were two George Wheelers in parish. One (of East Inn) md 12 May 1628 had Wm b 30 Jan 1630. The other md 8 June 1630 and had Wm born 24 July 1631.
In addition, George of East End had a daughter Mary bp. 31 Mar 1633, and George of Wharley End had a son Thomas bp. 14 Aug 1633. One man could not be the father of these 4 children.

References
  1. Albert Gallatins Wheeler, Jr. The History of the Wheeler Family in America. (Boston, Massachusetts., 1914, American College of Genealogy)
    20.
  2. Thomas Todd. Todd & Wheeler Families. (Boston, 1909,)
    32.
  3.   Virkus, Frederick A. The Compendium of American Genealogy. First Families of America. Volume I. (A.N. Marquis & Co, Chicago, Illinois 1925).
  4.   History of Fulton Co., Illinois.
  5. Coddington, John Insley. The Wheelers of Bedfordshire and New England. American Genealogist (D.L. Jacobus). (Jan, Apr, 1951; Jul, Oct 1952)
    27:121.

    giving baptism of "1605 George son of Thomas Wheeler, 23 Mar. [1605/6]" and baptism of William and Thomas children of George Wheeler of Wharley End.

  6.   Smith, Dean Crawford, and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. The Ancestry of Eva Belle Kempton 1878-1908. (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1996-2008)
    vol 3:438-47, 1996.

    link In a careful article published in the July 1937 issue of The American Genealogist, doubt was cast on the long-held view that George 1 Wheeler of Concord, Massachusetts, was the son of Thomas Wheeler of Cranfield, Bedford, England. Despite the fact that there was a baptism of a child, George, on 28 March 1605, born to Thomas Wheeler of Cranfield, the demonstrable father of Timothy Wheeler, Joseph Wheeler and Thomas (2nd) Wheeler, all later of Concord, and of Thomas (1st) and Ephraim Wheeler of Fairfield, Connecticut, not to mention Elizabeth Wheeler who settled in Lynn, Massachusetts, the elder Thomas failed to mention George in his 1627 will. George Wheeler of Concord gave his age only once, when he deposed in court in 1671, at which time he said he was 65 years old. This would place his birth about 1606, not far from the 1605 mark. This effectively eliminates another George Wheeler, baptized in Cranfield in 1613, who would be too young. A thorough examination of the town and county records in Concord and Middlesex, did little to support the family connection. Among the many Wheelers living in Concord in the mid to late 1600s, there were several occasions when men might call each other "brother" or "kinsman" and frequently did, but George Wheeler was not among them. Although George lived next to land owned by Joseph Wheeler, his supposed brother, they never addressed each other that way in records. The most tantalizing connection in the New World between George Wheeler and any of his supposed brothers, was the 1663 purchase with Timothy Wheeler of Concord land from widow Grace Bulkley (see below). George received one third of the land and Timothy two thirds. Given the available information, no conclusion can be reached. Readers who wish to examine the English data on this family are directed to TAG 14[1937]:1-4 and articles cited there.

    GEORGE1 WHEELER, perhaps the child baptized at Cranfield, Bedford, England, 23 March 1605/6; died in Concord, Mass., between 28 January 1684/5 when he made his will and 2 June 1687 when it was proved2 ; married in Cranfield 8 June 1630

    CATHERINE PIN, born say 1610, died in Concord 2 January 1 684/5.3 These Wheelers settled in Concord, Mass., between the time of their daughter's January 1635[/6] baptism and the 1640 recording of their daughter Sarah's birth. George played a significant part in early Concord settlement. Many of the land entries were written in his hand, he served on several committees for highways and for laying out land. 4 He was on the controversial committee that, after "much agitation," set expenses for four bridges and highways.5 At the end of 1654, George Wheeler's land holdings in the town of Concord were considerable, including one hundred and forty one acres of meadow, woodland, and upland. 6 On 1 January 1655[/6], George proposed to trade land near the frog ponds and Walden Pond for land at the upper end of his pond meadow.7 In 1655, George Wheeler, Simon Willard and Robert Merriam, all of Concord, were appointed by the General Court to dispose of the land owned by the estate of Francis Barker to the advantage of Barker's minor children. For the benefit of son John Barker, they sold a house and orchard on the east of Timothy Wheeler's land to Thomas Hinksman for £30. 8 In Middlesex County Court on 3 October 1658, George Wheeler, aged 65 years, deposed. On 30 September 1663, Mrs. Grace Bulkeley, relict widow of Mr. Peter Bulkeley, "sometime minister of the word of God in Concord," sold for £400 to Timothy Wheeler, yeoman, and George Wheeler, both of Concord, a dwelling house with outhouses and a garden or orchard, also land below the house except ten acres to be laid out to Edward Bulkeley, with the caveat that Timothy and George were never to be charged with maintaining the fence around the ten acres, and the great lot containing about a hundred acres behind the Hills, also seventytwo acres of meadow in the great meadow and twenty acres more in the same meadow, and four acres of meadow in the field and six acres of meadow in the 2 Suffolk Probate #1580. Will 10:2, evidence New Series, 2:435, inventory New Series 2:435; probate & letter 10:1. 3Concord VR, 26. "Concord TR 3:unp. 7 March 1654[/5], 13 February 1664[/5], 25 February 1667[/8]. 5 Ibid., 3:4. i Ibid., 3:unp. 7 Ibid., 3:unp. "Middlesex Deed, 2:198.

    town meadow, and eight acres more at Elm brook meadow, and thirty acres of land by Goodman Stratten's, and about two hundred acres of land in the hog pens, and about one hundred and fifty acres in the cedar swamp, and one hundred and twelve acres, and a piece of woodland nearby, and twenty acres of common with all the privileges, including a sufficient water course from the mill to the river through the meadow.9 George was to receive one quarter part of the property and the other three quarters were to go to Timothy, but no reason was expressed for this. Perhaps he only paid £100 to Timothy's £300? Following the first listing of Concord land holdings in 1654, several other lists were subsequently compiled in 1662/3 and 1664. In 1673, the last and most extensive list which included George Wheeler, was made, showing his twentyseven holdings totaling 334 3/4 acres: The Land of George Wheeler he is possessed of in the Town of Concord this twentyeth day of May in the year one thousand six hundred and seventy three Imprimis his house Lott Eleven acres more or less first division, and is bounded noreast with the Town highway and Northwest with the highway, west with land of John Scotchford, South and Southeast with land of Joshua Wheler It. Nine acres Lying over the mill Brook first division more or less and is Bounded South with land of Thomas Dane, and East with Land of John Haywood, north with Land of Humphery Buret, west with the Town highway It. thirteen acres and one half of medow in the great medow more or less, first division with a part of the hoult adjoyning to it and is bounded with Medow of Capt. Timothy Wheeler west, and medow of John Wheeler East, and medow of Samuel Jones South It. three quarters of an acre more or less medow and upland first division and is bound with land of James Smedly north, northeast with the mill Brook, Southeast and South with the highway, west with the burying place It. twenty eight acres of second division land more or less lying in the north quarter is bounded with land of Timothy Wheeler on the East, with land of Thomas Brown Senr on the north and with land of William Rutterick west It. five acres lying in the north quarter Common It. in Spring medow two acres and a half of first division medow more or less with some upland adjoyning to it on the side of the hill to the brow of the hill and is bounded with Land and medow of Thomas Dakin west and north; Samuel Wheelers medow Southwest, and the River Southeast. It. Seventy Six acres of first and Second Division upland and medow lying on both sides of Brook medow Brook and is bounded with land of Obadiah Wheeler on the East and the South, and with undivided land west, and the highway and land of John Miles and medow of John Wheeler west and northwest, north with the highway, and land of John Wheeler northeast It. Six acres of first division medow more or less lying above fair haven and Bounded with the River East, South with medow of Obadiah Wheeler north with medow of Samuel Wheeler It three acres of first division medow more or less and is bounded with the River east medow of Luke Potter South, medow of James Horsmer junr north 'Middlesex Deed, 3:128-30.