- 1635 English Immigrant to America
Biography
Thomas Wheeler Jr. was born 1589 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom to Thomas Wheeler (1563-) and Katherine Rececca Sayre (1565-1653) and died 23 August 1654 Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States of unspecified causes. He married Ann Halsey (1592-1659) 5 May 1613 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom.
1635 Migration to America
He came to America with the Rev. John Jones' Company in the ship Defiance, which landed in New England Oct. 3, 1635, with his wife, children, and probably some grandchildren, he was in Concord Mass. as early as April 17, 1636-7, when he was made freeman there.
1635 Settlement in Concord
Of his life in Concord, Massachusetts, substantially nothing is known. Being a supporter of the Rev. John Jones at the time of the dissension in the Church at Concord, he became one of those who removed with him to Fairfield, Connecticut in 1644, settling at Pequonnock, on Uncoway Brook, where his home lot of 2l/2 acres is recorded, Jan., 1649. He was one of the first settlers at Black Rock, where he erected 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.
Thomas wrote his will on May 5, 1654, and died before August 23, the date of probate, in Fairfield. Thomas' will names his wife, Ann, his elder son, Thomas, daughter Sarah, wife of Thomas Sherwood, another unnamed daughter with children, and son John. Ann wrote her will on August 21, 1659, and died on the 20th of October.
Research Notes
From Biography https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Wheeler-197 Thomas Wheeler "eldest son" born about 1591, the son of Thomas Wheeler (the Elder) and his first wife. Thomas "eldest son" married at Cranfield, Bedford, England on 5 May 1613 to Ann Halsey.
In his father Thomas' will, he received a bequest as 'my eldest son Thomas' as there was a second son Thomas, referred to in the will as 'my youngest son.' [2]
Baptisms of children of Thomas & Ann (Halsey) Wheeler:[4]
- Richard 13 June 1614 died young
- Anna or Hannah 20 Feb 1617/18. The printed transcript says 15Fe
- Thomas 8 Dec 1621 (not Thomas Wheeler (c1620-1672) Thomas of 8 Apr 1620, his half brother.)
- John 27 Feb 1624/25
- Sarah 27 Dec 1627 or 1628
Thomas and Ann settled in Concord, Mass. & then to Fairfield Conn, where he died in 1654, she in 1659.[6][7]
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Richard Wheeler (1614-) | |||
| Maria Wheeler (c1615-) | |||
| Hannah Wheeler (1617-) | |||
| William Wheeler (c1618-1666) | |||
| Thomas Wheeler (1621-1704) | 8 December 1621 Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom | 24 December 1704 Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States | Sarah Meriam (c1626-1676) Sarah Beers (1639-1724) |
| Rebecca Wheeler (1622-1691) | 24 November 1622 Bristol, Gloucestershire, England | 12 December 1691 Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut | Henry Rowland (1625-1690) |
| John Wheeler (1624-1690) | 27 February 1624 Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England | 5 April 1690 Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut | Judith Turney (1635-1672) Elizabeth Rowland (1652-1703) |
| Sarah Wheeler (1628-bef1659) | |||
| Timothy Wheeler (1630-) | |||
| Joseph Wheeler (1632-) | |||
Siblings
References
- Families of Old Fairfield, Vol I, pp. 666-668.
- "Fifty Great Migration Colonists," Threlfall, pg 501-503, citing the following: TAG 12, 14, 27, 28;
- Cranfield Parish Register;
- History of Fairfield, Schenck, 1889; -
- Unpublished Studies of Lt. Col. Raymond D. Wheeler.
Residences
Footnotes (including sources)
| ‡ General |
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| ¢ Children |
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