Person:Robert Wheaton (1)

Origins

Robert Wheaton, the immigrant ancestor, was born approximately 1606 and came to Salem, Massachusetts, in 1636. He likely come from Wales or England. His origin is unknown - both Glamgoran, Wales and Devon, England have been speculated.

Life in New England

1636: In Salem, MA. Here his independence of thought and speech made for him enemies who finally drove him from the town, as a "pestilential fellow." From Salem he made his way to Weymouth sometime previous to 1642.

1644: Robert Wheaton was one of about 60 people who left Weymouth with Elder Samuel Newman to found what became Rehoboth, and that he was there by 1644. Richard Bowen is also on that list, as is a John Miller. Thomas Cooper and Robert Wheaton were the two deacons of Elder Newman's church. [He apparently prospered as a planter.]

1668: Included on the list of names of those that drew for a division of the North Purchase, 18th March 1668-9:

1675-76: During King Philip's war, he and other settlers had to abandon their homes, but he returned and died there at the ripe old age of niney in 1696.

He married Alyce... Bowen, dau of Richard Bowen who came to America about 1639....

Legacy

Vital records of Rehoboth (p. 886) does not list a death for Robert Wheaton.

Additional Sources

1. Immigrant Ancestors by Frederick A. Virkus, 1964, p. 72

2. A sketch of the history of Attleborough, Chapter I, Settlement of Rehoboth, p. 62

3. The Early History of Weymouth, MA (p. 82)

4. New England Families, Genealogies and Memorial, Volume 4, p. 1756:

1. ↑ Austin, J. O. Three Generations of the Butterworth Family. New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (1887)
   41:193.

   'May 31, 1699, [John Butterworth] gave a receipt on behalf of his wife Hannah for her part of estate of her father, who had died in 1696.'

2. ↑ Rounds, H. L. Peter. Abstracts of Bristol County, Massachusetts probate records: Bristol County, Massachusetts probate records. (Genealogical Publishing Company, 1987)
   1:12.

   'Inv. of Est. of ROBERT WHEATON, dtd. 11 Jan. 1695/6, pres. by Alice Wheaton, his widow. Apprs: William Carpenter & Samuel Millard [1:134].'

3.   Rounds, H. L. Peter. Abstracts of Bristol County, Massachusetts probate records: Bristol County, Massachusetts probate records. (Genealogical Publishing Company, 1987)
   1:12.

   'Will of ROBERT WHEATON of Reho, dtd. 2 Oct. 1687, prob. 24 Feb. 1695/6. Wife Alice. Sons: Joseph (eldest), Jeremiah, John, Obadiah, Ephraim & Benjamin. 3 daus: Bethiah, Hannah & Mary. Son Samuel's chldn. [not named]. Witns: John
   Peck, William Carpenter & John Butterworth [1:133].'

4.   Descendants of Robert Wheaton, Jean K Wheaton online (http:/www.wheatonjk.co.uk/Robert and Alice BOWEN.htm), a.

   This source points out that many compilers assume he came from Wales with Rev Myles (a Baptist minister), but he came to New England 30 years prior to Rev Myles. Original source for this is the article, "The Ancestry, Wives, and Children of Richard BOWEN of Weymouth and Rehoboth, Massachusetts", by Richard LeBaron Bowen Jr. (TAG 76 (Oct. 2001):263-78)

5.   Bowen, Richard LeBaron, Jr. The Ancestry, Wives, and Children of Richard Bowen of Weymouth and Rehoboth, Massachusetts: With Notes on His Sons-in-law Robert Wheaton and Robert Fuller and on Griffith Bowen of Roxbury, Massachusetts. American Genealogist (D.L. Jacobus). (October 2001).