Person:Sarah Wheeler (94)

Name: Sally Wheeler
Birth Date: 08 Aug 1792
Birthplace: Rutland, Worcester, Massachusetts
Father's Name: James Wheeler
Mother's Name: Thankful
Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch [3], James Wheeler in entry for Sally Wheeler, 08 Aug 1792; citing Rutland, Worcester, Massachusetts, p20; FHL microfilm 754,014.

DISCUSSION: There is no clear evidence that Sally Gunn is Sally Wheeler. Documents repeatedly give Vermont as the birthplace of Sarah "Sally" Gunn. But Sally Wheeler was definitely born in Rutland, Worcester County, Massachusetts. It is easy to believe that this problem is a misunderstanding, that since she was born in a place called Rutland (a census designated place in Massachusetts with just over 2,000 inhabitants in 2010), it must be she was thought to be born in the much better recognized Rutland, Vermont. A second corroborating fact is that, as said in Sally's obituary, her parents did indeed move to New York. Her mother died in Tioga Country, New York: Find A Grave Memorial# 79785918:[4]

If the birthplace in the obituary given below is true, then Sally Gunn is a different person.

Obituary for Sarah "Sally" (Wheeler) Gunn

From: Ashtabula [Ohio] Sentinel
Issue:April 8, 1875:

"Sally Gunn was born in Rutland County, Vermont in 1792. She moved with her parents to the state of New York in 1803. She was married to Comfort Gunn in 1808. They moved to Ashtabula County, Ohio in 1818 where they endured the hardships of a frontier life. While in Ohio, she experienced religion and united with the M. E. Church, with which she has been ever since connected. They moved to Michigan in 1842, settling in Lenawee County, from whence they moved to Ingham County in 1847. Her husband died in 1860 [1859], they having lived together for 52 years. Since her husband's death she has lived with her son-in-law, J.M. Hudson." (daughter Almeda)

Here is a likely choice for Comfort's wife. Unfortunately, we don't know anything about her:

Name: Sarah Messer
Birth Date: 12 Oct 1792
Birthplace: RUTLAND TWP,RUTLAND,VERMONT
"Vermont Births and Christenings, 1765-1908," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8L9-FJ6), Sarah Messer, 12 Oct 1792; citing RUTLAND TWP,RUTLAND,VERMONT, reference ; FHL microfilm unknown.

1860 Census:
Name: Sally Gunn
Age in 1860: 68
Birth Year: abt 1792
Birthplace: Vermont
Home in 1860: Alaiedon, Ingham, Michigan
Post Office: Mason
Household Members:
J M Hudson 37
Almeda Hudson 30 = daughter
Ellen Hudson 6
Sally Gunn 68
Albert Ferguson 14 = grandson, son of Olive
John Howell 25
"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch [5], Sally Gunn in entry for J M Hudson, 1860.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Maple Grove Cemetery, in Find A Grave.

   Sarah "Sally" Wheeler Gunn

2.   United States Census, 1850 and 1860.

   1850 FamilySearch: [1]
   1860 FamilySearch: [2]
   Both state birth in Vermont.

3.   Births, in Rutland, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records of Rutland, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849. (Worcester, Massachusetts: Franklin P. Rice, 1905)
   p.100.

   WHEELER, Sally, d. James and Thankful, [born] Aug. 8, 1792.

4.   There are problems with the date and state of birth. Her tombstone transcription says she was 83 years and 4 days old at the time of death. That would make her birth Feb 11 1792. Her obituary gives Rutland, Vermont as her place of birth, and the 1850 and 1860 census states Vermont as her place of birth. Rutland, MA Vital Records gives her birth in Rutland, Massachusetts on 8 Aug 1792. Her probable parents, James Wheeler and Thankful Tower, are living in Rutland, Worcester, Massachusetts and all their children are born there. James and Thankful move to New York about the time stated in the obituary.