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Thomas Wheeler |
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No parents conclusively identified |
Thomas Wheeler may have been born from approximately 1567 to 1577 TH46. He may have been the man named Thomas Wheller who married Dorothy Hallowey on April 13, 1600 in Chalgrave, Bedfordshire, England EM5. John Brooks Threlfall stated that in the early 1600s in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England, there were two men named Thomas Wheeler and there were three infants christened with the name George Wheeler TH46. There seem to be at least four men named Thomas Wheeler in Cranfield between 1600 and 1635: Thomas Wheeler “of Towne ende” (who is the subject of this biographical sketch), Thomas Wheeler “the elder” and “of the blakehouse”, the son of Thomas Wheeler “the elder/of the blakehouse”, who was called Thomas Weeler, Sr., and finally Thomas Wheler of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts and North Stonington, Connecticut who was the son of Thomas Wheeler “of Towne ende”. Other men called Thomas Wheler were the “tenant to ye Lordship” and of “ye Woode” CO42.
Locations in the parish records of Cranfield that were associated with Wheeler individuals included Warley/Wharley, “the Towne ende”, “Bornend” or “the bourne inn” (Bourne End), “ye Woode”, Dossewell/Doswell, “east inn” (East End), “the blakehouse”, and “the brooke” CO42. Wharley End is west of the village of Cranfield. Cranfield was first known as Town End, which refers to the main village of Cranfield WI51. Bourne End and East End are north of the village of Cranfield. There is a settlement called Wood End which is east of Cranfield, but according to Sally Williams, Wood End and Doeswell Lane (which is not known by that name anymore) were at the west end the village WI51, which really is more southwest than west. Threlfall believed that the George Wheeler who relocated to Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts was the son of the Thomas Wheler “of the Towne ende”, rather than the Thomas Wheeler “of the blakehouse” because Thomas Wheeler “of the blakehouse” wrote a will prior to his death in 1634/5 which did not mention a son named George TH46.
I believe that this Thomas Wheeler was “of Towne ende” and was the father of Thomas, George, John, Elizabeth, and Richard Wheeler.
Thomas Wheler, the son of Thomas Wheler, was baptized on November 20, 1603 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England CO42, TH46. He married an individual named Mary TH46; it is probable that this Thomas Wheler married Mary Beckley in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England on April 6, 1635 CO4, but he would have been thirty-one years old. It is claimed that Thomas Wheeler resided in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts by 1635, when he was elected as a constable in that year WH17, TH46. The first sixty-two years of town records for Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts are absent; they are alleged to have been destroyed in a fire in about 1690 LE13. He was said to have purchased land and a mill site in Lynn, where he operated a grist mill and a sawmill WH17. He was probably the “Goodman Wheeler” who was mentioned in the history of the ownership of the mill in a deposition given by Clement Coldam on June 3, 1678, which stated LE13:
…the grant of the old mill was in July ye 12, 1633, to Edward Tomlins, which was the second mill in this colony; and after the Towne saw that the mill could not supply the Towne, they gave leave to build an overshoot mill upon the same water; with a sluice called by the name of the old sluce, being made by Mr. Howell, the second owner of the mill; and then Mr. Howell did sell the same mill to John Elderkin; and John Elderkin did sell it to mr. Bennet, and mr. Bennet did sell it to Goodman Wheeler, and Goodman Wheeler sould it to John Ballard, and John Ballard sold it to Henry Rhodes…
Thomas Wheeler took the oath of fidelity and was made a freeman on October 7, 1641 PA23. His children were Isaac, Elizabeth, and Sarah WH17. I believe he was also probably the father of Mary Wheler, who was called the daughter of Thomas Wheler and was baptized in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England on February 24, 1635/6 CO42. This date is after his alleged presence in Massachusetts. Isaac Wheeler was born in 1646, married Martha Park on January 10, 1667, and died on June 5, 1712 WH17. Elizabeth Wheeler was said to have been born in 1648, married Josiah Witter in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts on February 25, 1662, and died on August 5, 1672 WH17. A Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England record for Elizabeth Wheler, the daughter of Thomas Wheler, joiner, stated that she was baptized on January 7, 1637/8 CO42. Sarah was born in 1650 and married on June 1, 1671 to an unidentified individual who may have been Daniel Stanton WH17.
He relocated to Stonington, New London County, Connecticut TH46 and was an original church member of the Stonington First Congregational Church (The Road Church) in Stonington, Connecticut on June 3, 1674 CO29. His wife and children became members on September 10, 1674 CO29. Thomas Wheeler died at age eighty-four on March 4, 1686 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut CO45 or March 6, 1686 TH46.
George Wheler, the son of Thomas Wheler, was christened on March 23, 1605/6, according to the parish records of Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England EM7, CO42.
John Wheeler, the son of Thomas Wheeler, was baptized on October 23, 1608 and buried on December 27, 1611 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England EM7, CO42, TH46.
Elizabeth Wheeler, the daughter of Thomas Wheeler, was baptized on February 27, 1610/11 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England EM7, CO42, TH46.
Richard Wheler, the son of “Thomas Wheler of the Towne ende”, was baptized on June 13, 1614 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England EM7, CO42, TH46. A man named Richard Wheeler settled in Dedham, Suffolk County (now Norfolk County), Massachusetts, and then relocated to Lancaster, Massachusetts. Richard Wheeler and John Farington were admitted as townsmen for Dedham, Massachusetts and they were granted two acres of upland in 1646 HI21. In 1648 the same two men, after having purchased William Bearstow’s grant of eight acres, requested additional land from Dedham HI21. His name appears throughout the records for Dedham until 1653 HI21. It is not at all certain that Richard Wheeler of Dedham and Lancaster was the Richard Wheler of Cranfield.
John Brooks Threlfall believes that Thomas Wheeler or his wife died after their last recorded child was christened in approximately 1614 TH46. Two men named Thomas Wheeler were buried at Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England; one on October 2, 1643 and another on October 8, 1643 CO42, TH46. A will for Thomas Wheeler has not been located TH46.
Briefly, I will review Thomas Wheeler “the elder” (1) and his son, Thomas Wheeler, Sr. (2) in the next four paragraphs. Because the records are confusing with multiple men named Thomas Wheeler, I have copied in chronological order all the records from Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England which pertain to Thomas Wheeler, and I have provided reasons why certain individuals were probably the children of Thomas Wheeler “the elder” and “of the blakehouse” (1), his son Thomas Wheeler, Sr. who relocated to Fairfield, Connecticut (2), Thomas Wheeler, the subject of this biographical sketch (3), or his son Thomas Wheeler, who relocated to Lynn, Massachusetts and Stonington, Connecticut (4). These records are presented in a tabular format following the next four four paragraphs.
Thomas Wheeler “the elder” (1) was likely born approximately 1565 and married twice (the second time to Rebecca) JA15. He is referred to as “the elder” because that is how he signed his will (“Thomas Wheler the elder”) JA15. Thomas Wheeler “the elder” was called “of Warley” on July 18, 1602 (the baptismal record of his daughter, Elizabeth) but by October 20, 1615 (the baptismal record of his daughter, Mary) he was called “Thomas Wheeler of Bornend” CO42. Donald Lines Jacobus believed that his children were Thomas (who had no baptismal record but was born about 1591 and was later known as Thomas Wheeler, Sr. and married Ann Halsey), Priscilla (who had no baptismal record but married someone with the surname Cockes), John (who had no baptismal record), Elizabeth (who had no baptismal record but married Allen Breed on November 14, 1622), Timothy (who was born about 1601 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire and died in 1687 in Concord, Massachusetts), Thomas (baptized on November 20, 1603 but may have died young), George (baptized on March 28, 1605 and may have died young), Susannah (baptized on May 31, 1607), Joseph (baptized on February 18, 1609/10), Abiah (baptized on January 17, 1612/13), Mary (baptized on October 20, 1615), Ephraim (baptized on March 16, 1618/19), and Thomas (baptized on April 8, 1620) JA15. Some of the information in the previous sentence is correct, but I have italicized the portions which I believe are incorrect. His daughter, Elizabeth Wheeler, married Allen Breade on November 14, 1622 in Pulloxhill, Bedfordshire, England EM6 and her baptismal record dated July 18, 1602 calls her father “Thomas Wheler of Warley” CO42.
Thomas Wheeler “the elder” (1) died between June 18, 1633 and February 24, 1634/5 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England JA15. “Thomas Wheler sen of Cranfield in the County of Bedf. yeoman” wrote his will on December 7, 1627 JA15. In the order they appear in his will, he named his wife, Rebecca, his son, Joseph Wheler, his youngest son who was younger than twenty-one, Thomas Wheler, his son, Efraim Wheler, his eldest son, Thomas Wheler (of “colorly” which was probably an error in transcription; this location may have been of “Wharley”), his daughter, Prisila Cockes, his son, John Wheler, his daughter, Elizabeth Broad (Bread), his daughter, Suzana Wheler, his daughter, Abiah Wheler, his daughter, Marie Wheler, his son-in-law, Allin Broad, and his son, Timothie Wheler JA15. He mentioned “all that Capitall messuage or tenement… lying and being in the Towne end of Cranfield”, “the close yard at Borne end”, his two dwelling houses at “Borne end and towne end”, and “messuage closes lands and medowes at Borne end” JA15. A postscript to his will was dated June 18, 1633 JA15. This Thomas Wheeler was probably the “Thomas Wheler of the blakehouse” who was buried on February 11, 1634/5 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England CO42.
Thomas Wheeler, Sr. (2), who relocated to Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut was the son of Thomas Wheeler “the elder” of Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England and his first (unnamed) wife JA14. Thomas Wheler married Ann Halsey in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England on May 5, 1613 CO42, JA14. He was referred to as “Thomas Wheeler of Warley” in the baptismal record of his daughter, Alice on June 15, 1616 CO42, which is close to the time when his father began referring to himself as “of Bornend”. Donald Lines Jacobus believed that his children were Richard (baptized on June 13, 1614 but died young), Anna or Hannah (baptized on February 20, 1617/18), Thomas (baptized on December 8, 1621), John (baptized on February 27, 1624/5), and Sarah (baptized on December 27, 1627 or 1628) JA14. I have italicized the information that I believe to be incorrect.
Thomas Wheeler, Sr. (2) of Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut wrote his will on January 16, 1653, which mentioned his wife, Ann, and his children, Thomas Wheeler, John Wheeler, Sarah Sherwood, a daughter with the surname of Hasting, and grandchildren named Thomas Sherwood, Mary Bennett, James Bennett, Thomas Bennett, and John Bennett ME12. This Thomas Wheeler died before August 23, 1654, when the inventory of his estate was conducted by William Bateman and Ephraim Wheeler ME12. Ann Wheeler of Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut wrote her will (the date is unknown) which was probated on August 21, 1659 ME12. In her will, Ann mentioned her children, Thomas Wheeler, John Wheeler, a daughter named Hannah, and grandchildren with surnames of Bennet and Sherwood ME12.
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Baptismal, Marriage, or Burial Record CO42: |
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Reason: |
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Debora Wheler, the daughter of Thomas Wheler, was buried on March 30, 1600. |
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This child could have been the daughter of (1) or (3), but not (2) because her baptism preceded the marriage of (2) to Ann Halsey on May 5, 1613 CO42, JA14. |
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Elizabeth Wheler, the daughter of Thomas Wheler of Warley, was baptized on July 18, 1602. |
(1) |
Elizabeth Broad/Bread was mentioned in the will of (1) on December 7, 1627 JA15. Elizabeth Wheeler married Allen Breade on November 14, 1622 in Pulloxhill, Bedfordshire, England EM6, so she would have been about twenty years old at the time of her marriage. |
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Thomas Wheler, the son of Thomas Wheler, was baptized on November 20, 1603. |
(3) |
This Thomas could not have been (2) who married Ann Halsey on May 5, 1613 CO42, JA14 because he would have been about ten years old, and (1) would not have had three sons named Thomas. |
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Timothy Wheler, the son of Thomas Wheler, was baptized on December 28, 1604. |
(1) |
Timothie was mentioned in the will of (1) on December 7, 1627 JA15. |
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George Wheler, the son of Thomas Wheler, was baptized on March 23, 1605/6. |
(3) |
George was not mentioned in the will of (1) on December 7, 1627 JA15 and his baptism preceded the marriage of (2) to Ann Halsey on May 5, 1613 CO42, JA14. |
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Susan Wheeler, the daughter of Thomas Wheeler, was baptized on May 31, 1607. |
(1) |
Suzana was mentioned in the will of (1) on December 7, 1627 JA15. |
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John Wheeler, the son of Thomas Wheeler, was baptized on October 23, 1608. |
(3) |
His baptism preceded the marriage of (2) to Ann Halsey on May 5, 1613 CO42, JA14 and this was probably the same John who was buried on December 27, 1611, so he probably was not the John who was mentioned in the will of (1) on December 7, 1627 JA15. |
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Joseph Wheler, the son of Thomas Wheler, was baptized on February 18, 1609/10. |
(1) |
Joseph was mentioned in the will of (1) on December 7, 1627 JA15. |
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Elizabeth Wheeler, the daughter of Thomas Wheeler, was baptized on February 27, 1610/11. |
(3) |
Her baptism preceded the marriage of (2) to Ann Halsey on May 5, 1613 CO42, JA14 and Elizabeth Broad/Bread was called the daughter of (1) in his will dated December 7, 1627 JA15, but Elizabeth Wheeler married Allen Breade on November 14, 1622 in Pulloxhill, Bedfordshire, England EM6 (if she were the Elizabeth who was baptized in February 1611, she would have been about eleven at her marriage). |
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John Wheeler, the son of Thomas Wheeler, was buried on December 27, 1611. |
(3) |
His death preceded the marriage of (2) to Ann Halsey on May 5, 1613 CO42, JA14 and (1) mentioned a son named John on December 7, 1627 JA15. |
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Abia Wheeler, the daughter of Thomas Wheeler, was baptized on January 17, 1612/13. |
(1) |
Abiah was mentioned in the will of (1) on December 7, 1627 JA15. |
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Thomas Wheler married Ann Halsey on May 5, 1613. |
(1) |
Assuming that (3) married Dorothy Hallowey on April 13, 1600 in Chalgrave, Bedfordshire, England EM5 and that this was his first marriage (which are big assumptions), they would not have been able to have a child who was of the age to be married in 1613. The will of (1) mentioned “his eldest son, Thomas Wheler” on December 7, 1627 JA15. |
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Ann Wheler, the daughter of Thomas Wheler, Jr., was baptized on January 30, 1613/14. |
(2) |
It would make sense to refer to “Thomas Wheler, Jr.” if there were two men named Thomas Wheler, father and son, whose families were still growing. Thus, this Ann cannot be the daughter of (1) because the baptism record would have stated “Thomas Wheler, Sr.”. |
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Richard Wheler, the son of Thomas Wheler of the Towne ende, was baptized on June 13, 1614. |
(3) |
This baptism occurred 4.5 months after that of Ann Wheeler (who was baptized on January 30, 1613/14 CO42), indicating the father was probably not (2). While there would have been enough time for a pregnancy for the wife of (1) between that of Abia Wheeler on January 17, 1612/13 and Mary Wheeler on October 20, 1615, this record refers to Thomas of “the Towne ende”, and the record about one year later for Mary refers to Thomas of “Bornend” CO42. |
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Ann Wheeler, the daughter of Thomas Wheeler, was buried on July 16, 1615. |
(2) |
This Ann was probably the Ann who was baptized on January 30, 1613/14 CO42. |
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Mary Wheeler, the daughter of Thomas Wheeler of Bornend, was baptized on October 20, 1615. |
(1) |
Marie was mentioned in the will of (1) on December 7, 1627 JA15. |
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Alice Wheeler, the daughter of Thomas Wheeler of Warley, was baptized on June 15, 1616. |
(2) |
Based on a later baptism record (on November 4, 1622) for Elizabeth Wheler, the daughter of Thomas Wheler of Wharley CO42, who I demonstrate would have been the daughter of (2), I have tentatively assigned this Alice Wheeler, the daughter of Thomas Wheeler of “Warley”, to (2). An earlier baptism (on June 13, 1614) for Richard Wheler stated that he was the son of Thomas Wheler of “the Towne ende” CO42, and for this reason I believe that her father was not (3). She may have been the Alice Wheler who married John Billington on October 16, 1634 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England EM7. On February 14, 1635/6 in Cranfield, Mary, the daughter of John Billington was baptized, and on April 15, 1636, Mary, the daughter of John Billington was buried EM7. Alice Billington was buried in Cranfield on December 15, 1636, unless she was incorrectly recorded as “Mary” Billington, whose burial occurred four days after that of Mary, the daughter of John Billington EM7. |
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Ann Wheler, the daughter of Thomas Wheler, was baptized on February 15, 1617/18. |
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She may have been the daugher of (2) if she married someone with the surname Bennet or Hasting, or if her mother called her Hannah instead of Ann in her will probated on August 21, 1659 ME12. |
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Efferham (or Ephraim) Wheeler, the son of Thomas Wheeler, was baptized on March 16, 1618/19. |
(1) |
Efraim was mentioned in the will of (1) on December 7, 1627 JA15. |
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Thomas Wheeler, the son of Thomas Wheeler, was baptized on April 9, 1620. |
(1) |
Thomas was called the youngest son of (1) in his will dated December 7, 1627 JA15. However, the will of (2) dated January 16, 1653 also mentioned a son named Thomas ME12. |
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Thomas Wheeler, the son of Thomas Wheeler, was baptized on December 8, 1621. |
(2) |
Thomas was mentioned in the will of (2) on January 16, 1653 ME12. However, this Thomas could have been the son of (1) whose will dated December 7, 1627 mentioned his youngest son Thomas JA15. |
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Elizabeth Wheler, the daughter of Thomas Wheler of Wharley, was baptized on November 4, 1622. |
(2) |
She was not the daughter of (1) because he already had a daughter named Elizabeth JA15 who married Allen Breade on November 14, 1622 in Pulloxhill, Bedfordshire, England EM6. She was not the daughter of (3) because he also already had a daughter named Elizabeth who was baptized on February 27, 1610/11 CO42. |
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John Wheler, the son of Thomas Wheler, was baptized on February 27, 1624/25. |
(2) |
John was mentioned in the will of (2) on January 16, 1653 ME12. |
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Mary Wheler, the daughter of Thomas Wheler, was baptized on February 17, 1627/8. |
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She could not have been the daughter of (1) because he mentioned his daughter, Marie in his will dated December 7, 1627 JA15. It seems unlikely that she was the daughter of (3) because about fourteen years had elapsed since the baptism of Richard Wheler, the son of Thomas Wheler of the Towne ende CO42. |
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Sarah Wheler, the daughter of Thomas Wheler, was baptized on August 10, 1628. |
(2) |
Sarah Sherwood was mentioned in the will of (2) on January 16, 1653 ME12. |
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Susan Wheler, the daughter of Thomas Wheler tenant to ye Lordship, was baptized on April 4, 1630. |
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This Thomas who was a tenant to the lordship may have been an entirely new Thomas Wheler who was not (1), (2), (3), or the Thomas who was of “ye Woode”. |
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Sarah Wheler, the daughter of Thomas Wheler of ye Woode, was baptized on June 20, 1630. |
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This Thomas of the Wood may have been an entirely new Thomas Wheler who was not (1), (2), (3), or the Thomas who was a tenant to the lordship. |
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Thomas Wheler of the blakehouse was buried on February 11, 1634/5. |
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This was probably the “Thomas Wheler sen of Cranfield in the County of Bedf. yeoman” who wrote his will on December 7, 1627 and wrote a postscript to the will on June 18, 1633 JA15. |
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Thomas Wheler married Mary Beckley on April 6, 1635. |
(3) |
There are baptismal records for Thomas Wheeler on April 9, 1620 and Thomas Wheeler on December 8, 1621 CO42 but these individuals would not have been old enough to get married in 1635. He likely was the son of (3) and was the Thomas Wheler who was baptized on November 20, 1603 CO42. |
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Mary Wheler, the daughter of Thomas Wheler, was baptized on February 24, 1635/6. |
(4) |
She may have been the daughter of the Thomas Wheler who married Mary Beckley in 1635, or the daughter of the other two Thomas Whelers (the tenant to the lordship or of “ye Woode”). |
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Abia Wheler was buried on April 18, 1637. |
(1) |
Abiah was mentioned in the will of (1) on December 7, 1627 JA15. |
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Elizabeth Wheler, the daughter of Thomas Wheler, joiner, was baptized on January 7, 1637/8. |
(4) |
She may have been the daughter of the Thomas Wheler who married Mary Beckley in 1635; Elizabeth Wheeler, the daughter of Thomas, allegedly married Josiah Witter in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts on February 25, 1662 WH17, which would fall in the range of a typical age at marriage. |
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Thomas Wheeler was buried on October 2, 1643. |
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This person’s parentage is unknown. |
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Thomas Wheeler was buried on October 8, 1643. |
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This person’s parentage is unknown. |
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Thomas Wheeler, the son of John Wheeler, was buried on October 22, 1643. |
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This person’s ancestry is unknown. |