Robert Wheaton (1605 - 1695)

Born 11 Nov 1605 in Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales

Husband of Alice (Bowen) Wheaton — married about 1636 in Salem, Massachusetts [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 11 Jan 1695 at age 89 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island

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Robert Wheaton migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 366) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

This profile is part of the Wheaton Name Study.

Robert Wheaton, the immigrant ancestor, was born in 1606 in England and came from Swansea in Wales, to Salem, Massachusetts, in 1636. Possible a twin to brother Joseph.

A previous version of this profile claimed, without source, that he was the son of Christopher Wheaton. Until evidence and sources of such origins can be found, we are detaching the father. Please use g2g to discuss evidence for Robert's origins. Thank you.

Occupation: Tanner

He married Alice Bowen (1620-1699) about 1640. ^{[citation needed]}

Robert Wheaton and his wife were among the followers of the Reverend [which?] who removed from Weymouth, Plymouth Colony to Rehoboth, Plymouth Colony in 1643. ^{[citation needed]} . He died 1696 in Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts.^[1]

Life in New England

1636: In Salem, Massachusetts. Here his independence of thought and speech made for him enemies who finally drove him from the town, as a "pestilential fellow." From Salem he made his way to Weymouth sometime previous to 1644^[2].

He is listed in the original list of estate for division as "Mr. Obediah Holmes, now Robert Wheaton's." (see Bliss pp 25-26}

1644: Robert Wheaton was one of about 60 families who left Weymouth with Elder Samuel Neuman to found what became Rehoboth, and that he was there by 1644^[2]. Richard Bowen is also on that list, as is a John Miller. Thomas Cooper and Robert Wheaton were the two deacons of Elder Newman's church.^{[citation needed]}

Robert's property is listed in the "Ring of Green" townsite map in what is present day Rumford, RI^[3].

Rehoboth Ring of the Green Map

1646: Robert Wheaton was included on the list of names of those who drew lots for the new meadow.^[2].

1668: Robert Wheaton was included on the list of names of those that drew for a division of the North Purchase on 23 May 1668, Robert Wheaton. received one of the lots that were allotted from Meadow on the North Side of Rehoboth.^[2]

1675-76: During King Philip's war, he and other settlers had to abandon their homes, but he returned and died there at the ripe old age of ninety in 1696. (Although not specifically mentioned, many left during King Phillips War and returned later. For a full account of Phillips war, refer to History of Rehoboth by Bliss (pp 72-118)^[2].

1689: Listed on the role of inhabitants of Rehoboth (page 128)^[2].

1696: His death is not recorded in Vital Records of Rehoboth (p. 886).

Buried: Burial Place Hill, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts

Family

He married Alyce Bowen, daughter of Richard Bowen who came to America about 1639. Their children included:^{[citation needed]}

1. Joseph, born Salem
2. Samuel, born Salem
3. Jeremiah, born Salem
4. Obadiah, born Rehoboth, January 20, 1647; (a notation in the published vital records suggests this child was Abigail)^[4]
5. John, born Reh. April 20, 1650
6. Bethia, born Reh. May 20, 1652
7. Hannah, born Reh. Sep 18,1654
8. Mary, born Reh. Nov 4, 1656
9. Ephraim, born Reh. Oct 20, 1659
10. Benjamin, in Reh. last of February 1661

Find-a-Grave, without citing a source suggests an additional child Christopher as possible son of Robert and Alice Wheaton: ^[5]

Last Will & Testament

Robert Wheaton wrote a Will dated 2 Oct. 1687, which was probated 24 Feb. 1695/6, in which he left legacies to his wife, Alice and sons Joseph (eldest), Jeremiah, John, Obadiah, Ephraim & Benjamin; and his three daughters, Bethiah, Hannah & Mary, as well as to the children of his son Samuel (not named). The will was witnessed by John Peck, William Carpenter & John Butterworth. The inventory of his estate was dated 11 Jan. 1695/6, pres. by Alice Wheaton, his widow. Appraisers were William Carpenter & Samuel Millard.^[6][7]

The estate was divided 31 May 1699.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKD-K7XH : 13 December 2015), Robert Wheaton, ; Burial, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States of America, Burial Place Hill; citing record ID 44174366
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Bliss, Jr., Leonard, (1836), “The History of Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts: Comprising A History of the Present Towns of Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Pawtcket, From their Settlement to the Present Time, Together with Sketches of Attleborough, Cumberland, and a part of Swansey and Barrinigton”. (pp 26, 38 & 67). Boston, MA., Otis and Boarders, Accessed 23 Sep 2018. https://books.google.com/books?id=T5qZBD5qK2EC&printsec=frontcover&dq=history+of+rehoboth&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi52eCb5qzdAhUjL30KHZqkCokQ6AEIKzAB#v=onepage&q&f=true
3. ↑ Rehoboth Ring of the Green Map. “Historic Bus Tour 2016: A map of the “Ring of the Green,” the original town center of Rehoboth, now located in Rumford, RI. “, Rehoboth Antiquarian Society Newsletter, March 2016, pp. 3-4. link
4. ↑ page 768: "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1V-TDVY : 29 November 2018), citing Birth, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States, town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm.
5. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKD-K7XH : 13 December 2015), Robert Wheaton, ; Burial, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States of America, Burial Place Hill; citing record ID 44174366,
6. ↑ Extracts: Bristol County Probate Records, Vol. I:133-134
7. ↑ "Probate records 1687-1916; index, 1687-1926 [Bristol County, Massachusetts]". Catalog: Probate records 1687-1916; index, 1687-1926 [Bristol County, Massachusetts] Probates, v. 1-4 1687-1723 Vol. 3 ends p. 337 (1710-1716). Lacking 1717-1 720. Vol. 4 begins 1721. Film number: 007703530 > image 75 of 745. FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9YT-986M (accessed 15 February 2023).
   Bond: "Bristol County (Mass.) probate records 1690-1881". Catalog: Bristol County (Mass.) probate records 1690-1881 Wetherell, Thomas - Wheeler, Hopestill. Film number: 007702881 > image 1080 of 1493. FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9YR-K6HP (accessed 15 February 2023).
8. ↑ "Probate records 1687-1916; index, 1687-1926 [Bristol County, Massachusetts]". Catalog: Probate records 1687-1916; index, 1687-1926 [Bristol County, Massachusetts] Probates, v. 1-4 1687-1723 Vol. 3 ends p. 337 (1710-1716). Lacking 1717-1 720. Vol. 4 begins 1721. Film number: 007703530 > image 137 of 745. FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9YT-9888 (accessed 15 February 2023).

See also:

• Immigrant Ancestors by Frederick A. Virkus, 1964, p. 72

• Roberts, Gary Boyd; Ancestors of American Presidents. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.

• A sketch of the history of Attleborough, Chapter I, Settlement of Rehoboth, p. 62

• The Early History of Weymouth, MA (p. 82)

• New England Families, Genealogies and Memorial, Volume 4, p. 1756

• Robert Wheaton, "Rhode Island Marriages, 1724-1916"

• England Marriages, 1548-1973

Name: Robert Wheaton Spouse's Name: Elce Bowen

• Rehoboth Time Line