Ralph Wheelock (abt. 1600 - 1684)

Born about 1600 in Shropshire, England [uncertain]

Husband of Rebecca (Clarke) Wheelock — married 17 May 1630 in Wramplingham, Norfolk, England

Descendants

Died 11 Jan 1684 at about age 84 in Medfield, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Ralph Wheelock migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 368) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Ralph Wheelock is Notable.

Birth and Early life

Reverend Ralph Wheelock (c. 1600-1683) was born in England sometime between 1600-1605. Some sources say that he was born in Shropshire, although no definitive record of his birth has been found (see Uncertain Origins section).^[1] He matriculated as a sizar^[2] at Clare College, Cambridge University in 1623, receiving his BA in 1626 and MA 1631.^[3]

As Reverend Wheelock was completing his studies at Clare College, he was ordained as a deacon by at Peterborough on September 20, 1629,^[3] and finally as a priest by Francis White, Bishop of the Norfolk Diocese on May 6, 1630.^[4] Less than two weeks later on May 17, 1630 he married Rebecca Clarke, daughter of Thomas Clarke and Mary Canne.^[5][6] It appears that he was also serving as the local "curate" for the village of Eccles during this time.^[4]

Immigration

Most sources, including Anderson,^[7] list his year of immigration as 1637, although there is no documentation of his arrival. Secondary sources have stated that he and his family traveled on the Hector before August 1636, or on the second voyage of the Transport, but either passenger lists are missing, or Ralph Wheelock and family are not found on the lists. The first known record of Ralph in New England is the Dedham Town Meeting, 14 July 1637, when he was admitted as an inhabitant, along with Thomas Cakebread and Henry Phillips.^[8]

Several sources say that a child was born at sea. If true, this was probably Ralph's daughter Peregrina for whom a birth record has not been found in England or Massachusetts.^[9] The meaning of the name "Peregrina", implies pilgrimage and transit, which could have special significance (or, alternatively, could be a coincidence which lends plausibility to the story.)

Founding of Dedham and Medfield, Massachusetts

Upon arrival, Rebecca and Ralph Wheelock settled in Watertown, Massachusetts. There Rev. Wheelock participated in a plan to create a new settlement further up the Charles River, to be called Contentment (later renamed Dedham). In 1638 Rev. Wheelock became one of the earliest settlers and a founder of Dedham. He lived there with his wife for more than a decade, and played a leading role in the affairs of the town.

Ralph Wheelock then became THE founding father of Medfield, the town still further up the Charles River founded in 1650 by people from Dedham. He was a member of the first board of selectmen and served in that role for five years. In 1655 he became the town's first schoolmaster. He represented the town at the General Court, served as magistrate, and performed most of the marriages.^[10]

Uncertain origins

There is not sufficient evidence to confirm the parents of Ralph Wheelock. The earliest published reference to his birth information may be the Memoirs of the Rev. Eleazar Wheelock published in 1810 which states that Ralph Wheelock was born in 1600 in Shropshire, England. The authors do not state the source of this information, but its been suggested that the information came from Ralph's great-grandson Eleazar, or possibly the family bible which had been bequeathed to Eleazar by his father. (See Sullivan, Rick. "Wheelock Mysteries"). While there is a record for a Ralph Wheelock born 14 May 1600 Dorrington, Shropshire, England to Joseph Wheelock and Elizabeth Rogers, there is no evidence tying this to Ralph Wheelock who came to America. There was clearly more than one Ralph Wheelock of similar age in Shropshire, as shown by the marriage record of a Ralph Wheelock marrying a Rebecca Wilkinson at Lyth Hill-Dorrington Chapel on 17 Jun 1631. The 1600 date of birth has also been called into question because Cambridge records show his date of matriculation as 1623. Unless Ralph was older than the average student starting university at 18, his birth date is more likely to be about 1605.^[5]

In Ralph Wheelock's biography Alumni cantabrigienses, the author suggests that Ralph could be the brother of Abraham Wheelock, a member of the faculty at Clare College, and a native of Shropshire. ^[3]

Marriage and Children

Ralph Wheelock married Rebecca Clarke on 17 May 1630 in Wramplingham, Norfolk, England^[6] ten days after his ordination into the clergy. Ralph and Rebecca had nine known children:

Born in England:^[4]

• Mary Wheelock, baptised in Banham, County of Norfolk, 2 Sep 1631,
• Gershom Wheelock, baptised in Eccles, County of Norfolk, 3 Jan 1632/33,
• Rebecca Wheelock, baptised in Eccles, County of Norfolk, 24 Aug 1634,

Born, possibly on shipboard while immigrating to New England:

• Peregrina Wheelock, b ??

Born in Dedham:^[11]

• Benjamin Wheelock, b. 8 Dec. 1639
• Samuel Wheelock b. 22 Sept. 1642
• Record Wheelock b. 15 Dec. 1643
• Experience Wheelock b. 1648

Born in Medfield:^[12]

• Eleazar Wheelock, b. May 3, 1654

Death

Ralph died 11 Jan 1684 in Medfield, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay^[13][14]

Last Will and Testament

Will of Rev. Ralph Wheelock

The will of Reverend Ralph Wheelock "of Medfield in the County of Sufflolk" was written March 3, 1681 and proved May 1, 1684. Will was witnessed and and presented to the court by George and Samuel Barbour.

Heirs specifically named:

• Gershom (specifically referenced as eldest son)
• Benjamin
• Eleazer
• Samuel, appointed executor
• Increase Ward (Son-in-law)
• Felix Warren (Son-in-law)
• Rebecca Craft (Grand child)

Others named:

• George Barbour "brother in law" is named as "overseer to be Aiding and Assisting to my Executor."
• Timothy Dwight, previous land owner of property bequeathed to to son Gershom Wheelock.
• Thomas Elice, previous land owner of property bequeathed to son Benjamin Wheelock
• John Wilson, previous land owner of property bequeathed to son Benjamin Wheelock
• Henry Adames, previous land owner of adjoinng land bequeathed to son Eleazar
• "deceased wife" not named, but references a cow that she had willed to grandchild Rebecca Craft.

=====================================

Colonial Clergy entry:

RALPH WHEELOCK, A.M., b. Shropshire, England, 1600; Clare Hall, Camb., A.B., 1626/7; A.M., 1631; Ord. deacon by the Bishop of Peterborough, Sept. 20, 1629; came to N. E., 1637; resided first at Watertown and Dedham; a founder of the First Chh. in Dedham, 1638; Deputy Gen. Ct., 1639, 1640, from Dedham; preached at Dedham and Medfield; admitted freeman, 1638; founder of Medfield, 1650; Rep. Gen. Ct., from Medfield, 1653, 1663, 1664, 1666, and 1667; appointed, Sept. 27, 1642, by the Gen. Ct., Clerk of the writs, and one of the commissioners to end small causes, in Dedham; authorized to "solemnize marriages," Oct. 1645; great-grand-father of Rev. Eleazer Wheelock, D.D., founder and first president of Dart. Coll. who was the father of Rev.John Wheelock, D.D., the second president of Dart. Coll. ; d. Medfield, Jan 11, 1683/4, a. 84.^[15]

Research Notes

Disputed Parents / Origins: Ralph Wheelock's parentage is unknown. No reliable evidence has been found that Joseph Wheelock and Elizabeth Rogers were his parents and they have been disconnected. Refer to Uncertain origins section above for further information.

Sources

1. ↑ Waite, M. Warren. (1940). The Wheelock family of Calais, Vermont: their American ancestry and descendants. North Montpelier, Vt.: Driftwind Press. Page 11.
2. ↑ Sizar meant, at Cambridge, that he was what might now be called a scholarship student, "receiving financial help from the college and formerly having certain menial duties" per https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sizar. That seems to put paid to speculation of his being a younger son of a noble family.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Venn, John, Sc. D., F.R.S., F.S.A., and Venn, J.A. M.A., compilers, Alumni Cantabrigiense, Cambridge (University Press, 1927), Part 1 p 381. https://venn.lib.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/search-2018.pl?sur=Wheelock&suro=w&fir=r&firo=b&cit=&cito=c&c=all&z=all&tex=&sye=&eye=&col=all&maxcount=50
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Clark, Christopher Gleason,"Mr. Wheelock's Cure", in "New England Historical and Genealogical Register", Vol 152, January 1998.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Clark, Christopher Gleason,"The English Ancestry of Joseph Clark (1613-1683) of Dedham and Medfield, Massachusetts", in "New England Historical and Genealogical Register", Vol 152, January 1998. Copyright permission not available for on-line version, but current NEHGS members may request PDF by email.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N2PP-NPR : 10 December 2014), Ralph Whelock and Rebecca Clarke, 1630; citing Wramplingham,Norfolk,England, reference ; FHL microfilm 887,920.
7. ↑ Anderson, Robert Charles, "The Great Migration Directory", Boston: New England Historic and Genealogical Society, 2015, page 368.
8. ↑ Hill, Don Gleason. Early Records of Dedham, Massachusetts 1892, page 32.
9. ↑ M'Clure,David and Parish, Elijah. Memoirs of the Rev. Eleazar Wheelock, D.D.: founder and president of Dartmouth College and Moor's Charity School, published in 1811, page 11.
10. ↑ Tilden, William Smith, The History of the Town of Medfield, Massachusetts . . . 1650-1886, (Boston, 1887, Geo, H. Ellis), p. 506-507.
11. ↑ Don Gleason Hill, compiler, The Record of Baptisms, Marriages & Deaths ... Town of Dedham, MA, 1638-1845 2 vols. (Dedham, MA: Town of Dedham, 1886), Vol 1, pages 1,2,3, & 4
12. ↑ Norfolk, Vital Records of Medfield, Massachusetts to the year 1850. (Boston, 1903, New England Historic Genealogical Society), p. 102.
13. ↑ Norfolk, Vital Records of Medfield, Massachusetts to the year 1850. (Boston, 1903, New England Historic Genealogical Society), p. 240.
14. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHDX-887 : 13 July 2016), Rebecca Wheelock, 01 Jan 1680; citing Death, Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 721,179.
15. ↑ Weis, Frederick Lewis, The Colonial Clergy and the Colonial Churches of New England, Clearfield Company, Inc. (Lancaster, Massachusetts, 1936) p 221.

See also:

• wikipedia:Ralph Wheelock (Wikipedia)
• Wheelock Genealogy website, managed by Rick Sullivan, "Ralph Wheelock"
• Sulivan, Rick. Biography of Ralph Wheelock on Wheelock Genealogy Website.
• Lewis Wilder Hicks and Thomas Seabury Wheelock.Mr. Ralph Wheelock, Puritan.
• Savage, James. A genealogical dictionary of the first settlers of New England, Vol 4. Published in 1860. p. 502. [In paragraph on Benjamin Wheelock. Gives reputed location of birth as Salop County].
• Wheelock, Walter. The Wheelock family in America, 1637-1969, published in 1969, p. 13 View in Exlibris
• "New England Historical and Genealogical Register" vol. 152 p. 18 "The English Ancestry of Joseph Clark (1613-1683) of Dedham and Medfield, Massachusetts" It is not on the NEHGS website. permission for online publication was denied by the author.
• M'Clure, David and Parish, Elijah. Memoirs of the Rev. Eleazar Wheelock, D.D.: founder and president of Dartmouth College and Moor's Charity School, published in 1811, page 11.
• Stiles, Ezra, and Franklin B. Dexter. The Literary Diary of Ezra Stiles. New York: C. Scribner, 1901. Page 535. View in Archive.org.
• History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, 1622-1918 by Cook, Louis A. (Louis Atwood), 1847-1918, ed Publication date 1918Usage Public Domain Mark 1.0 Topics bub_uploadPublisher New York; Chicago, The S.J. Clarke publishing company Collection americana Digitizing sponsor Google Book from the collections of New York Public Library Language English https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_HzoWAAAAYAAJ/mode/2up
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48822670/ralph-wheelock: accessed May 10, 2024), memorial page for Rev Ralph Wheelock (1600–11 Jan 1684), Find A Grave: Memorial #48822670, citing Vine Lake Cemetery, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Kevin Avery (contributor 47024642). [Note: burial is likely in Vine Lake Cemetery in Medfield, although there is no known marker or burial record].