Is the Wheeler family tree tainted?

Question

I have been researching my ancestor Moses Wheeler and found his parents were supposed to be Dominic Wheeler and Mercy Jellye. Problem is, a corrupt man named Gustave Anjou may have created a fake Wheeler genealogy. I have tried finding any source given for the Wheeler ancestry for Dominic Wheeler(born in 1565 and died in 1615in England) and every family tree I've seen does not list any sources for their information, which instantly made me suspicious. It's as if everyone is simply copying the exact same information but never listing an original source or reference. Where did the Wheeler family tree for Dominic Wheeler originate? Is it legit?

Comments

Unfortunately, this is not uncommon in this online click o phile age.  Hopefully someone in the wikitree can point you in right direction for sources.

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Hi Holly Battle nd Laura Black,

In addition to the suggestion by Ann, see 

Walter Goodwin Davis, _The ancestry of Annis Spear, 1775-1858, of Litchfield, Maine_, 133-135, "Wheeler," for entry Dominick (1) Wheeler and family; digital images, _Hathi Trust_ (accessed 2014). http://hdl.handle.net/2027/wu.89061707279?urlappend=%3Bseq=153

There is no "Moses" listed, but there are three sons named John. Davis footnotes that "It was not ucommon in the sixteenth century to give a son the Christan name of a living elder son." 

Davis updates the thinking about the migration of John Wheeler (of Salisbury and Newbury), saying this immigrant was probably not the man who entrolled for passage on the Mary & John, 1634. Anderson followed that reasoning when he addressed that passenger. For Anderson's article, see _Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y_ (2011), 324, for entry "John Wheeler."*

While there is a lot yet to be done on the Wheelers, some work has been started with regard to his daughter, Elizabeth and her husbands--Thomas Durston/Duston and Matthias Button,  Many errors in print have been published about Elizabeth and both of the husbands. For progress about that on-going collaboration, see 

• Elizabeth Wheeler/Wheeler-613
• Thomas Duston Sr./Duston-8
• Mathias Button/Button-37

Hope this helps.--GeneJ

*Anderson reports claims the two men were the same are found in "Savage 4:497," Pope 489-90"; writes "see also GDMNH 743 and Hoyt 353-54."

 

Answer 1

Hey Laura:

I am descended from Dominick Wheeler and I can tell you I searched British records to confirm some info:

Dominick was born about 1565.   Source: Ancestry of Charles Stinson Pillsbury..., "The Dominick Wheeler Line", by Mary Lovering Holman, 1938, Vol. 2. Number 157.

Dominic Wheeler was a shearman, or one whose occupation was to shear cloth.

Married Mercy Jellye 3 June 1588 in Salisbury Wiltshire.  At Salisbury St Edmund's Church. WP Phillimore's Parish Registry Series, Volume 13, page 22.

Buried Jan. 12, 1615/6 St. Edmund's, Salisbury, Wiltshire. Will is dated 12 December 1615 and it was proved the 16 February 1615/6. Source: "Wheeler", Bassett-Preston ancestors : a history of the ancestors", Belle Preston, 1930, p 317. Familysearch Film: 1279311.

Mercy was the daughter of William Jellye born about 1540 in Wiltshire. Married Eyed Atkins 7 November 1565. WP Phillimore's Parish Registry Series, Volume 13, page 7.  Mercy was born about 1569.

Oddly enough, I don't have Moses Wheeler as a child of Dominick and Mercy. I have a Moses Wheeler born 24 June 1665 in Salisbury Essex Massachusetts. Son of Henry Wheeler and Abigail Allen. If this is, in fact, your Moses, I can send you more data (and sources). (Henry was son of John Wheeler and Agnes/Ann Yeoman, John was son of Dominick.)

 

best regards,

 

Ann Carmel

Comments

This is such helpful information! Thank you so very much.