Sgt. Thomas Wheeler, Sr., of Concord

In 1644 he was living in Fairfield, Connecticut. In the 1650s Wheeler was a trader; in 1657 he purchased the right to trade with the Native American tribes for twenty five pounds. Around 1661 he was one of the first people to purchase land in the Ockocangansett plantation, which later became the town of Middleborough, Massachusetts. He was made a lieutenant on October 12, 1669 and a captain in 1671.

In 1675 he took part in King Philip's War against the Wampanoag and Nipmuck tribes. At the beginning of the hostilities he was assigned as military escort to Cpt. Edward Hutchinson and together with him, led his men into an ambush, carried out by the Nipmucks under Muttawmp and Matoonas, at Brookfield, Massachusetts, that has become known as Wheeler's Surprise. His horse was shot out from under him and he was seriously wounded, but eventually survived the battle. His son, also named Thomas Wheeler was also wounded, in the loins and arm, but also managed to survive. Thomas Wheeler (senior) eventually wrote an account of the engagement which was first published in 1676 by Samuel Green, under the title "A Thankfulle Remembrence of Gods Mercy. To several Persons at Quabaug or BROOKFIELD". Wheeler's work exemplifies the Puritan conception of heroism, in which a person's piety is their virtue while the credit for the victory in battle is ascribed to God.

He died in 1686 due to complications from the wounds received at the battle of Brookfield.[4]

• Reference: Concord Library

Son of Thomas Wheeler (d 1654) & Ann Halsey.

Thomas was freeman in Concord 18 May 1642. During King Philip's war he was a captain who saw hard service especially on the Quaboag ambuscade, 1 Aug. 1675, when he was wounded with the s. of little above 13 yrs. old; and his superior officer, Edward Hutchinson, was mortally. wounded. Wheeler wrote a modest narrative which. is republished by the New Hampshire Historical Society, In vol. II. Administration of his estate was given to his widow Hannah and son Thomas upon his small estate 21 Sept. following by Gov. Andros. How old he was, or in what part of Eng. b. cannot be ascertain. though tradition with her customary tale, makes the three brothers come from Wales. He daughter Ruth, married . 7 May 1673, Ephraim Jones of Concord.

Links:

• Reference: WMGS
• Reference: Find-A-Grave

Thomas and Sarah had ten children, all born in Concord. Thomas is known in the records of Concord as "Sgt. Thomas". Sarah died in Concord on February 1, 1676/7. Thomas then married the widow of Isaac Stearns, Sarah nee Beers on July 23, 1677. One of Thomas' sons, John, married his step-sister, Sarah Stearns, the daughter of Sarah and Isaac. Thomas died in Concord on December 24, 1704 and is buried in the Old Hill Burying Ground in Concord.

Children of Thomas & Sarah (Meriam) Wheeler: Sarah (1649); Joseph (1651); Ann (1653); John (1656); Mary (1658); Thomas (1662); Elizabeth (1665); Timothy (1667) Rebecca (1670); Ruth (1673)

Children of Sgt. Thomas & Sarah (Starnes) Wheeler: Ephraim (1678); Joseph (1681). "History & Gen. of the Families of Old Fairfield", p. 1079.

Marriages

Are they all true?

1. Sarah Meriam (c.1626 - 1676), daughter of Joseph Merriam (c.1600 - 1641) and Sarah Goldstone (1602 - 1670) married c.1648
2. Joanna Seabrook (c.1592 - 1673), daughter of Robert Seabrook (1563 - 1650) and Alice Goodspeed (1576 - 1638)
3. Jean Bryan
4. Sarah Beers Stearns (1639 - 1723), daughter of Captain Richard Beers (1613 - 1675) and Elizabeth Firman (1615 - 1706), married 1677

notes

From http://www.sallysfamilyplace.com/Wheeler/wheelertsgt.htm

Thomas Wheeler bapt 8 Dec 1621 Cranfield, son of Thomas Wheeler and Ann Halsey.

He may have come with his parents in the Rev. John Jones' Company in the ship Definance that landed in New England 3 Oct 1635. His father Thomas was listed as a freeman in Concord  13 May 1640  

This Thomas was listed as freeman 18 May 1642

He was appointed Sergeant in 1642 and on the Concord Records from that time until his death, his name generally appears with that prefix, though sometimes called Thomas Wheeler, Sr 

When his parents and uncle Thomas removed to Fairfield with the Rev John Jones, this Thomas apparently remained in Concord where he had married by 1648 Sarah Merriam and six of their children  were recorded  in Concord starting in 1649 through 1662.

His father Thomas died in 1654 leaving his son Thomas all of his property in Concord. His mother Ann died in 1659.

His 1st wife Sarah Merriam  died 1 Feb 1676.

Thomas  married 2nd 23 July 1677 Sarah Beers Stearns 5 Dec 1639 widow of Isaac and dau of Richard Beers   [her daughter Sarah married his son John]

He died.- 24 Dec 1704 Concord MA in his 84th yr

His widow Sarah Beers Stearns Wheeler died 21 Jan 1724

Family

• WHEELER, Thomas
• b. 8 DEC 1621 Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England
• d. 24 DEC 1704 Concord, Middlesex, Mass.
• Family:
• Marriage: 1649
• Spouse: MERRIAM, Sarah
• b. ABT 1633 England
• d. 1 FEB 1675/6 Concord, Middlesex, Mass.
• Parents:
• Father: MERRIAM, George
• Mother: RAVEN, Susanna
• Children:
  • WHEELER, Sarah
  • WHEELER, Joseph
  • WHEELER, Ann b. 22 DEC 1653 Concord, Middlesex, Mass.
  • WHEELER, John
  • WHEELER, Thomas b. 29 MAR 1662 Concord, Middlesex, Mass. d. 12 JUN 1695 Concord, Middlesex, Mass.
  • WHEELER, Elizabeth
  • WHEELER, Timothy
  • WHEELER, Rebecca b. 3 APR 1670 Concord, Middlesex, Mass. d. 6 NOV 1710
  • WHEELER, Ruth
• Family:
• Marriage: 23 JUL 1677
• Spouse:BEERS, Sarah
• From: Geneology of New England
• Sgt. Thomas Wheeler
• M, #4522, d. 24 December 1704
• Father Thomas Wheeler b. 1591, d. 23 Aug 1654
• Mother Anne Halsey
• Sgt. Thomas Wheeler was christened at of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. He married Sarah Miriam. Sgt. Thomas Wheeler married Sarah Beers on 23 July 1677. Sgt. Thomas Wheeler died on 24 December 1704.
• Family Sarah Miriam
• From: Our Royal Titled Nobles
• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jan 15 2017, 4:32:05 UTC
• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jan 20 2017, 2:02:14 UTC

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GEDCOM Note

Category: Wheeler Name Study Category: Concord, Massachusetts Category: Old Hill Burying Ground, Concord, Massachusetts Disputes: Wheeler, Albert Gallatin Jr. The Genealogical and Encyclopedic History of the Wheeler Family in America, Boston Massachusetts, 1914, James Savages Genealogy Dictionary, and others - incorrectlyidentifies the relationships in this family. Correction: Sergeant Thomas Wheeler was baptized on December 8, 1621 at Cranfield, son of Thomas Wheeler (1591-1654) and Anne Halsey. In Wheeler Families on p. 143, he is not attached to his correct father. On p. 200 his uncle Lieut. Thomas, (his father's half- brother) baptized on April 8, 1620 at Cranfield, is incorrectly attached as a son of Thomas Wheeler (1591-1654) and Anne Halsey, instead of a brotherto that Thomas. He is further misidentified as the husband of Joan/Jane on p. 200, the Thomas addressed on p. 200 is dob c1620/location unknown; parents unknown. Lieut. Thomas who was actually the Thomas bp Apr. 8, 1620, married Ruth Wood, is addressed in Wheeler Family p. 1-12. [Note: There is no evidence that his mother Anne Halsey married John Middlebrook, the Middlebrook siblings on the profile are incorrect and need to be removed from Anne Halsey to remove these connections]

See the following: :[Anderson, Robert C. Great Migration T-Y: 2011 p. 325] :[TAG: Vol. 12: p.4-17] : [Jacobus, Donald L. History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, Volume 1, p. 662-6]

Biography

Sergeant Thomas Wheeler of Concord, Massachusetts was baptized in Cranfield, Bedford Co., England on December 8, 1621, son of Thomas Wheeler(1591-1654) and Ann Halsey of England, Concord, Massachusetts and later of Fairfield, Connecticut. <ref>Anderson, Robert C. Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y, NEHGS, Boston, Massachusetts, 2011 p. 325 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012.)</ref> <ref name=TAG12>Brainard, Homer W. Captain Thomas Wheeler and Some of His Descendants in: The American Genealogist, Volume 12, New Haven, Connecticut, 1935 p. 4-17 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) </ref> <ref name=FairFam>Jacobus, Donald L. History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, Volume 1, Fairfield, Connecticut, 1930-32: reprinted Genealogy Publ. Co., Baltimore, Maryland, 2007 p. 662-6</ref>

• The Wheelers were of Concord, Massachusetts by 1639. <ref name=ConcHist />* 1643: Sept. 7: Thomas Wheeler Sr., Thomas Wheeler Jr., Timothy Wheeler, Ephraim Wheeler and others petitioned for land grants to the northand west of Concord, indicating, having arrived some four years ago, they had up to this time, held only lands that they themselves had purchased, after the land grants of suitable farming land had already been granted to others. <ref name=ConcHist>Hudson, Alfred S. The History of Concord, Massachusetts, Vol. 1, Colonial Concord, Erudite Press, Concord, Massachusetts, 1904 p. 279-80</ref>* c1644: He removed to Fairfield, Connecticut with his fatherbut later returned to Concord. Thomas went to Farifield with his father, but returned to Concord, where he was called there, Thomas Sr. until his 'uncle' Lieutenant ThomasWheeler also returned about 1669. Thence Thomas Jr. was called 'Sergeant' Thomas. <ref name=TAG12 /> His father Thomas died at Fairfield, Connecticut in 1654, and in his will written on January 15, 1653/4, he names his wife Ann, sons John and Thomas Wheeler, and also a brother/half brother Lieutenant Thomas Wheeler, among others. Elder son Thomas was bequeathed property in Concord. <ref name=TAG12 /> <ref name=FairFam /> He is also named in his mother Ann's will of August 21, 1659. <ref name=FairFam /> Sergeant Thomas Wheeler married first Sarah Merriam. <ref name=TAG12 /> Sarah was born in England about 1626, the daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Goldstone) Merriam. <ref name=MerrGen>Pope, Charles H., compiler. Merriam Genealogy in England and America, C. H. Pope, Boston, Massachusetts, 1906 p. 32-6</ref> <ref>Threfall, John Brooks. Fifty Great Migration Colonists to New England & Their Origins, J. B. Threfall, Madison, Wisconsin, 1990, p. 502</ref> Sarah Merriam and her siblings are named in the will of there uncle Robert Goldstone of Tonbridge, Kent, written on April 10, 1637. <ref>TheNew England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 50, NEHGS, Boston, Massachusetts, 1897 p. 507-8</ref> <ref name=MerrGen />

She died at Concord on February 1, 1676. <ref name=ConcVR /> He married second, on July 23, 1677, Sarah (Beers) Stearns. <ref name=TAG12 /> <ref name=ConcVR /> Sarah was born about 1641 the daughter of Captain Richard and Elizabeth (Firmin) Beers of Watertown, Massachusetts, and the widow of Isaac Stearns. <ref name=Sterns>Gen Van Wagenen, Avis Stearns. Stearns Genealogy and Memoirs, Volume 1, Genealogy and Memoirs of Isaac Stearns and His Descendants, Courier Press Co., Syracuse, New York, 1901 p. 26 </ref> In her father's Richard Beers will, written in1675, he mentioned that his daughter Stearns had already received part of her portion. In thelater final division of his estate, June 27 1711, she acknowledged her agreement to the settlement as Sarah Wheeler. <ref>Case 1473: p. 1-10: Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society,2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized mages provided by FamilySearch.org) </ref> Sergeant Thomas Wheeler died December 24, 1704. <ref name=TAG12 /> <ref name=ConcVR />

His widow Sarah died on January 24, 1723/4. <ref name=ConcVR />

Children

by first wife Sarah Merriam, born at Concord:# Sarah born on July 10, 1649 <ref name=WheelFam>Wheeler, Albert Gallatin. The Genealogical and Encyclopedic History of the Wheeler Familyin America, American College of Genealogy, Boston Massachusetts, 1914 p. 143-7 </ref>; married John Smedley May 5, 1669. <ref name=ConcVR /># Joseph born on August 18, 1651; died on March 16, 1676/7. <ref name=ConcVR /> <ref name=WheelFam /># Ann born on December 22, 1653; died on March 20, 1676/7. <ref name=ConcVR /> <ref name=WheelFam /># John born on February 18, 1655; died December 1, 1736; on marriedon December 27, 1678, Sarah Stearns, daughter of his step mother. <ref name=ConcVR /> <ref name=WheelFam /># Mary born on December 20, 1658; died on May 26, 1668. <ref name=ConcVR /> <ref name=WheelFam /># Thomas born on March 29, 1662; died on June 12, 1695. <ref name=ConcVR /> <ref name=WheelFam /># Elizabeth born February 23, 1664; died on Oct. 26, 1744; married Samuel Fletcher on June 15, 1682. <ref name=ConcVR /> <ref name=WheelFam /># Timothy born on July 24, 1667; died on April 14, 1718; married LydiaWheeler on May 19, 1692. <ref name=ConcVR /> <ref name=WheelFam /># Rebecca born on April 3, 1670; died on November 6, 1710. <ref name=ConcVR /> <ref name=WheelFam /> # Ruth born on April 10, 1673 <ref name=ConcVR /> <ref name=WheelFam />; married Joseph Warren/Warrin at Chelmsford on March 11, 1696. <ref>Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849, The Essex Insititute, Chelmsford, Massachusetts, 1914 p. 341: 345</ref>
by second wife Sarah (Beers) Stearns# Ephraim born on June 26, 1678 <ref name=WheelFam />; married Elizabeth Spaulding at Concord on April 20, 1698. <ref name=ConcVR />

1. ? Joseph born on January 11, 1680/1. <ref name=ConcVR />
2. ? Johannah born on January 12, 1680/1. <ref name=ConcVR />

Source notes

Concord Marriages : WHELER Thomas, Sgt., and Sarah Starnes , July 23, 1677. (p. 20) : Wheler, John, and Sara Starns, Dec. 27, 1678. (p. 21): Wheeler, Elizabeth, and Saml Fletcher, 15: 4m: 1682. [June 15] (p. 25) : Wheeler, Timothy, and Lidiah Wheeler, May 19, 1692. (p. 36) : Smedley, John and Sarah Wheeler, May 5, 1669. (p. 14) : Wheeler, Ephraim, and Elizebeth Spalding, Apr. 20, 1698. (p. 46) Concord Births Children: WHEELER by first wife who died abt 1676: : Wheeler, Sarath, d. Thomas and Sarath, 10: 4m: 1649. (p. 5) : Wheeler, Sara, d. Thomas, sr. and Sara, July 10, 1649. (p. 8) : Wheeler, Joseph, s. Thomas, sr. and Sara, Aug. 18, 1651. (p. 8) : Wheeler, An, d. Thomas, sr. and Sara, Dec. 22, 1653. (p. 8) : Wheeler, John, s. Thomas, sr. and Sara, Feb. 18, 1655. (p. 8) : Wheeler, Mary, d. Thomas, sr. and Sara, Dec. 20, 1658. (p. 8) : Wheeler, Thomas, s. Thomas, sr. and Sara, Mar. 29, 1662. (p. 1) : Wheeler, Elisabeth, d. Thomas and Sarah, Feb. 23, 1664. (p. 11) : Wheeler, Timothy, s. Thomas and Sarah, July 24, 1667. (p. 13) : Wheler, Rebackah, d. Sgt. Thomas and Sarah, Apr. 3, 1670. (p. 17) : Wheler, Ruth, d. Sgt. Thomas and Sarah, Apr. 10, 1673. (p. 17) : Wheeler, Ephram, s. Thomas, 26: 4m: 1678. [June 26] (p. 22): Wheeler, ? Joannah, d. Tho., 12: 11m: 1680. [January 12] (p. 24): Wheeler, ? Joseph, s. Thomas and Sarah, Jan. 11, 1680-1. (p. 31): Wheeler, ? Joseph, s. Tho., 11: 11m: 1680. [ January 11] (p. 24)"" Concord Deaths : WHEELER Sarah, w. Sgt. Thomas, Feb. 1, 1676. (p. 19) : WHEELER, Thomas, Sgt., h. Sarah, Dec. 24, 1704. (p. 68): Sarah Wheeler ye Relict widow of Thomas Wheeler (her husband) died January 21st: 1723/4. (p. 110) : Wheeler, Mary, d. Sgt. Thomas and Sara, May 26, 1668. (p. 13) : Wheeler, Joseph, s. Sgt. Thomas, Mar. 16, 1676-77. (p. 19) : Wheeler, Ann, d. Sgt. Thomas, Mar. 20, 1676-77. (p. 19) : Wheeler, Thomas, s. Thomas Sr., June 12, 1695. (p. 57) : Wheeler, Rebeckah, d. Mr Thomas and Sarah, Nov. 6, 1710. (p. 76) : Wheeler, Timothy, h. Liddia, Apr. 14, 1718. [a. 51 y. GS] (p. 94) : Wheeler, John, Dea., h. Sarah, Dec. 1, 1736. (p. 128): Fletcher, Elisabeth, wid. Cornett Samuel, Oct. 26, 1744. (p. 159) <ref name=ConcVR>Tolman, George compiler. Concord, Massachusetts Births,Marriages, and Deaths, 1635-1850, Printed by the Town, T. Todd Printer, Beacon Press, Boston, Massachusetts, 1891 </ref> Unconfirmed; Burial: Old Hill Burying Ground, Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts: Sgt Thomas Wheeler Death: Dec. 24, 1704 Concord<ref>Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 20 March 2019), memorial page for Sgt Thomas Wheeler (8 Feb 1621–24 Dec 1704), 59771023, citing Old Hill Burying Ground, Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Ken Smith (contributor46985536) .</ref>

Sources

<references /> See also:* New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation, Volume 2 by William Richard Cutter Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913 p. 967

Acknowledgements ==* WikiTree profile Wheeler-3702 created through the import of JESSUP-ELDER-WALLACE-ROSS Fami.ged on Oct 23, 2012 by David Jessup. See the Changes page for the details of edits by David and others. Page: Ancestry Family Trees Data: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=21174920&pid...

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Jun 2 2022, 10:11:44 UTC