THOMAS WHEELER [#996], b. probably Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England abt. 1590, d. Fairfield, CT 23 Aug 1654, m. Cranfield 5 May 1613 ANN HALSEY, d. Fairfield, CT 20 Oct 1659.
Thomas Wheeler, eldest son of his family, was born about 1590 and grew up in Cranfield, Bedfordshire. He married there on May 5, 1613 to Ann Halsey. This was a double wedding with Robert Halsey and Ann Wheeler. Presumably it was a case of brother and sister marrying a sister and brother, but the relationships have not yet been proven. From a Bedfordshire tax list, the Roll of Arrears of Payment of Ship Money, 1637, is listed, "Thomas Wheeler gone into New England, 010500". He was made a freeman of the colony on April 17, 1637.[3/501]
Thomas Wheeler came to America with numerous other Wheelers and was in Concord, Massachusetts for a time, where he was called Thomas Wheeler Senior.[3/259] He, his family, and others went to Fairfield, Connecticut with the Reverend John Jones in September 1644. Land was recorded to him in January 164950 and, at the same time, land adjacent to his was recorded to Thomas Wheeler, Jr..[4/662] He is said to have settled at Black Rock, erecting a stone house or fort, on whose plank roof he mounted two four-pounders, one pointed toward the mouth of the harbour, and the other toward the Indian fort (now called the Old Fort) at the head of the harbour. The Indian fort had at times a garrison of 200 Indians and served as their protection in the numerous wars they had with the Indians of the interior.[1/259]
Thomas made his will in 1654, bequeathing to his sons John and Thomas, also to his brother "Lieut. Thomas". The will of his widow Ann was probated on August 21, 1659.[1/259]
For information on Thomas' English family, refer to the overseas ancestor section.
REF: [1] The Ancestry of Edward Wales Blake - Edith Bartlett Sumner,
1948 (pgs.259-260)
[2] History of the Wheeler Family in America - Albert Gallatin
Wheeler, Jr., 1914 (pg.200)
[3] Fifty Great Migration Colonists to New England & Their
Origins - John B. Threlfall, 1990 (pgs.501-503)
[4] History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield,
Vol. 1 - Donald Lines Jacobus, 190 (pg.662-3)
Children (baptised in Cranfield):
1. Ann, bap. 30 Jan 1613-4, bur. Cranfield 16 Jul 1615 2. Alice, bap. 15 Jun 1616, m. 16 Oct 1634 John Billington, bap. 14 Feb 1612-3, bur. Eng. 26 Sep 1671 3. Anna, bap. 15 Feb 1617-8, m(1) abt. 1639 James Bennett, d. 1659, m(2) Joseph Middlebrook, b. abt. 1610, d. 1686 4. Thomas, bap. 9 Apr 1620, d. Concord, MA 24 Dec 1704, m(1) Sarah Merriam, d. Concord, MA 1 Feb 1676-7, m(2) Concord 23 Jul 1677 Sarah (Beers) Stearns, b. Watertown, MA 5 Dec 1639, d. Concord 21 Jan 1724 5. Elizabeth, bap. 4 Nov 1622 6. John, bap. 27 Feb 1624-5, d. 1690, m(1) 1660 Judith Turney, b. abt. 1635, d. abt. 1673, m(2) Elizabeth (Henry) Rowland 7. Sarah, bap. 10 Aug 1628, d. bef. 1659, m. Thomas Sherwood, Jr.
THOMAS WHEELER [#498], bap. Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England 9 Apr 1620, d. Concord, MA 24 Dec 1704, m(1) SARAH MERRIAM, d. Concord, MA 1 Feb 1676-7, m(2) Concord 23 Jul 1677 Sarah (Beers) Stearns, b. Watertown, MA 5 Dec 1639, d. Concord 21 Jan 1724.
Thomas Wheeler came to America with his parents and aunts and uncles. He was appointed Sergeant in 1642 in Concord, but in 1644 he and the other Wheelers went with Reverend John Jones and a large company to Fairfield, Connecticut. He later returned to Concord and lived on land bequeathed him by his father. He was called Senior until the return of Lieutenant Thomas Wheeler, after whose death he was again called Sergt. Thomas Wheeler, Sr..[1/260]
Speculation is that Thomas married Sarah Merriam, probably in Concord. His wife's name was definitely Sarah, but proof is lacking for stating that she was definitely a Merriam. Probate records are of no use here, because Sarah Merriam was just a child when her father died, so her married name is not included in the estate settlement. Refer to the possible ancestor section for the family of Joseph Merriam.
REF: [1] The Ancestry of Edward Wales Blake - Edith Bartlett Sumner,
1948 (pg.260)
[2] History of the Wheeler Family in America - Albert Gallatin
Wheeler, Jr., 1914 (pgs.201-205)
[3] Concord, MA Vital Records
Children (by first Sarah in Concord):
1. Sarah, b. 10 Jul 1649, d. 1743, m. 5 May 1669 John Smedley 2. Joseph, b. 18 Aug 1651, d. Concord 16 Mar 1676-7 3. Ann, b. 22 Dec 1653, d. Concord 20 Mar 1676-7 4. John, b. 18 Feb 1655, d. Concord 1 Dec 1736, m. 27 Dec 1678 Sarah Stearns, d. 1727 5. Mary, b. 20 Dec 1658, d. Concord 26 May 1668 6. Thomas, b. 29 Mar 1662, d. Concord 12 Jun 1695 7. Elizabeth, b. 23 Feb 1664-5, d. Concord, MA 26 Oct 1744, m. 15 Jun 1682 Samuel Fletcher, b. Concord 6 Aug 1657, d. Concord 23 Oct 1744 8. Timothy, b. 24 Jul 1667, d. Concord 14 Apr 1718, m. 19 May 1692 Lydia Wheeler, b. 1675 9. Rebecca, b. 3 Apr 1670, d. Concord 6 Nov 1710 10. Ruth, b. 10 Apr 1673, m. 11 Mar 1696 Joseph Warren
Children (by second Sarah in Concord):
11. Ephraim, b. 26 Jun 1678, d. 19 Apr 1725, m. 20 Apr 1698 Elizabeth Spaulding 12. Joseph, b. 11 Jan 1680-1 13. Joanna, b. 12 Jan 1680-1
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