AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT
Contact information on HOME page
Direct descendant is highlighted in red
Thomas Wheadon see FAMILY TREE
Born: 31 May 1663 Branford, New Haven, Connecticut Colony
Married: 10 Oct 1686 Branford, New Haven, Connecticut Colony
Died: 16 Oct 1707 Branford, New Haven, Connecticut Colony
FATHER
MOTHER
WIFE
CHILDREN
1. Hannah Wheadon
b. 1658
m. Abt.1707 John Plant
d. 5 Nov 1754 Branford, New Haven, CT
2. Abigail Wheadon
b. 27 Jan 1688
m. 10 May 1710 Nathaniel Page
d. 3 Oct 1742 Branford, New Haven, CT
3. Thomas Wheadon
b. 20 Feb 1692
m. 6 May 1714 Eunice Swain
m. 2 Oct 1734 Elizabeth Potter
d. 26 Oct 1752 East Hampton, Middlesex, CT
4. John Wheadon
b. 01 Sep 1694 Branford, New Haven, CT
d. Aft. 1752
5. Nathaniel Wheadon
b. Feb 1696
m. 8 Nov 1725 Rhoda Wheeler
d. 1793 Hebron, Washington, NY
6. Rebecca Wheadon
b. Sep 1701
m. 9 Dec 1725 John Wheadon
d. 1760 Southington, CT
7. Jonathan Wheadon
bap. Jul 1704
d. 1714-1715 Branford, New Haven, CT
8. Martha Wheadon
b. 2 Jan 1707/8
m. 5 Jan 1725 Steven Barnes
d. 18 Mar 1773 Southington, CT
Biography of Thomas Wheadon Jr
by Susan Brooke
April 2020
Thomas Wheadon Jr. was born in Branford, CT on May 31, 1663. He was the oldest child of Thomas and Mary Wheadon and probably worked with his father on his father's lands. Around 1680 a Samuel Harrington moved to Branford. Samuel Harrington had married Hannah Plympton, the widow of Nathaniel Sutcliffe. Her oldest daughter was Hannah Sutcliffe. When Thomas Wheadon Jr met Hannah Sutcliffe he was about 17 and Hannah 15. Branford Deed BK 2 pg 36 reads, "The town has given to Samuel Harrington a parcel of land about three acres lying upon the hill called Blacklys hill and joyning to Thomas Wheadons land." March 4 1686" Four days later, March 8, 1686, BK 2 pg 30 reads "The towne has given and granted unto Thomas Wheadon Junr three acres of land upon the hill by Backlys barn (commonly so called) which land is to build a dwelling house upon." Thomas Wheadon Jr and Hannah Sutcliffe married on October 10, 1686.
Thomas Wheadon, Jr had been acquiring small plots of land from the town starting about the time he married Hannah Sutcliffe. Five years later in Oct 1691 his father, Thomas Wheadon, Sr., died and Thomas Wheadon Jr became the executor of his father's estate. The inventory he presented in court in Nov 1691 gave a total for his father's estate of £195. (1) From that he was to receive a double portion as eldest son: a homelot with 2 acres, some other small parcels of land and a cow, a calf, a sheep and some bedding for a total of £36. His siblings were to receive about £20 each. His mother must have died the next year since in Nov 1692 he was back in court and additional £427 became available for distribution. An agreement was made between Thomas Wheaden Jr and his two brothers-in-law, Samuel Elwell and Edward Johnson. (2) From this Thomas Wheadon Jr received another £142. The two youngest siblings were still under age, but in Nov 1693 Thomas Wheadon Jr gave his brother John, who was then 21, "his portion of my father's estate." John Wheadon received a dwelling house plus 2 acres of home lot, 40 acres of "my third division land with home lots, meadow and upland with all the fruit tree and timber there." (3) Two years later in Feb 1695, when his sister Hannah Wheadon was about to turn 21, Thomas Wheadon Jr allotted to her 2 1/2 acres of upland, 6 acres of pasture and 1/2 of a barren swamp "equalling £23.10'. (4)
As noted Thomas Wheadon, Jr died in 1707. He was only 44 years old and he left a pregnant widow with seven children under the age of 13. His daughter Martha was born 3 months after his death leaving his widow Hannah with 8 children to raise. She became their guardian.. His brother-in-law, Edward Johnson, took over the distribution of his father's estate. In May of 1713 Edward noted 121 acres in the 4th division and another 121 acres in the 5th division valued at a little over £230. (5) A few months later another 12 acres were presented by Edward Johnson. (6) Finally on June 6, 1715 the adjustments were made and the heirs of the "Eldest Son" were to receive another 41 acres in 5th Division Land and some land in the 4th Division for a total of £83.06.07. The other four children were to receive £41.13.3 1/2 (7)
Hannah Sutcliffe Whedon, was trying to settle her husband's estate at the same time Edward Johnson was working on the estate of Thomas Wheadon, Sr. An inventory taken by Sgt. Nathaniel Foot and John Linley was presented Nov 1, 1707 valued at £549.8. The administrator is listed as Hannah Wheadon. Savage wrote, "as we learn at the return of the inv. had Hannah and Abigail, of full age, in 1707; Thomas, aged 16; John, 13; Nathaniel, 10; Rebecca, 6; Jonathan, 3; and Martha, posthum." However, this record is not part of the inventory found in the New Haven Probate Record books. (8) Hannah was in court several times over the next few years. On Jan 5, 1713/4 as she is adding lands to the estate she indicated there were 8 living children.(9) A year later on Jun 4, 1715 she indicates there are only 7 living children. (10) Her 10 year old son Jonathan had died. With the additional amounts being added from the estate of Thomas Wheadon Sr., the estate of Thomas Wheadon Jr eventually rose to £597.15.10. Finally, on Nov 6, 1715, a distribution was made. Hannah, as widow was to receive £199.5.3, or 1/3rd of the estate. The eldest son, Thomas Wheadon III, was to receive a double portion, £99.08.4. The other six children were to receive £49.18.9 each. (11)
The two estates were finally settled, but the children were still swapping lands. A land record of 1726 clearly identifies all the heirs of Thomas Wheadon, Jr along with their spouses. (12)
Sources
(1) New Haven Probate BK 2 pg. 88 image 308 8 May 1691
Inventory of the estate of Thomas Wheadon Sr of Branford -
taken by Samuel Pond or Bartholomew Goodrich 8th of May 1691
Total £195
| Thomas Wheadon Jun | one home lot of 2 acres | 18.00.00 |
| 1 acre at Indian Neck | 02.00.00 | |
| 2 acres of land at Dutchhouse neck | 04.00.00 | |
| 2 acres & half of land | 05.00.00 | |
| 1 acre of meadow at Stony Creek | 01.00.00 | |
| one cow and calf | 04.00.00 | |
| bedding | 01.12.00 | |
| one sheep | 00.10.00 | |
| Total | £36.02.00 | |
| Sarah Elwell | £20.03.00 | |
| Ellen Johnson | £07.17.06 | |
John Wheadon |
a small gun & a chest Due from ye estate about 20 |
£02.00.00 |
(2) New Haven Probate BK 2 pg.
118 image 323
4 Nov 1692
This present writing made ye fourth day of November one
thousand six hundred and ninety two Witnessed an Agreement between Thomas
Wheadon & Samuel Elwell on ye right of Sarah his wife & Edward Johnson on ye
right of Ester his wife, Respecting ye Division of ye estate of their father
Thomas Wheadon late of Branford deceased for themselves & John & Hannah the two
youngest children of ye Deceased the
estate amounting to ye sum of four hundred twenty seven pounds fourteen
shillings and seven pence with what several of ye Children Received
in their fathers life time the Debts due
from ye estate and thirty six pounds six shillings & a penny. And the estate
being impaired by Expenses of their mother in her life time with
her two youngest children are also in agreement formerly made between
them ye two sonns shall have their father's wearing clothes all amounting to ye
sum of thirteen pounds thirteen shillings and four pence is being deducted out
of ye estate together with ye fore mentioned thirty six pounds six shillings and
a penny in Debts, There remains of the estate four hundred twenty seven pounds
eighteen shillings & two pence is to be divided as followeth.
To Thomas the eldest son of ye Deceased a double portion which is 142
12 08.
And to the other four children Viz:
Sarah, Ester, John and Hannah to each of
them 71 06
04 which is what they have already receive to be payd by y before named
Thomas eldest son of the deceased unto the former youngest children before named
as as it shall be done by sd Thomas
being administrator to ye estate appointed thereunto by the court And that this
agreement shall put a final affirmation to any differences respecting
the estate to which agreement The Thomas
gives forth ---- mutually
subscribed this the day & year above written.
Thomas Wheadon
| the widdows third in the house barne & homelot | her 3d of the Lot to be on y side next the high way y goes to the ally | 23.6.8 |
| 1/3 of the pasture on the north side of high way | 32.0.0 | |
| 1/2 ye swamp adjoyning to Mr. Johnsons Swamp to be Divided Long ways as ye brook Runn | 18.0.0 | |
| 1 acre of Salt meadow near Indian neck | 04.00.0 | |
| 1 acre ditto up the River | 04.00.0 | |
| 1/3 of upper field at ye upper End | 16.00.0 | |
| Three of 5th Divisiion Land in Scottish Capwood | 16.10.0 | |
| In the 4th Division Land | 27.10.0 | |
| Total £141.06.8 | ||
| In personal Estate | 57.18.7 | |
| Total £199.5.3 |
(12) This distribution clearly identifies his then living children and spouses of his daughters.
Branford Deed Record BK 5 pg. 10-11
13 Dec 1726