Location: Charles, Maryland 1650-1776

Surnames/tags: Wheeler, Maryland Southern_Colonies
PURPOSE: The purpose of this page is to document information relevant to [Wheeler-1667], John Wheeler, his marriage, children and some descendants. Sources for basic information will be included. Disputed information not included in his profile, is included here, with any sources.
John Wheeler was born in 1630 in England, immigrated in 1651, probably to Virginia, then to Maryland by 1662. He died in Charles, Maryland, probably soon after November 11,1693 when his will was written, and before January 8, 1694 when it was probated.
- From The Genealogical...History of the Wheeler Family... Albert G. Wheeler, Editor.
- "He is the only original ancestor of the Maryland branch of the family of whom anything is known definitely. The time of his immigration and the place in Virginia to which he immigrated are matters of conjecture. The Maryland Archives shows that John Wheeler "denizated" in Maryland in the year 1662." Page 519.
Disputed Information Major John William Wheeler
- Poster: Helen L . Smith Hoke
- MAJOR JOHN WILLIAM WHEELER, was born January 22, 1630/31 in Wiltshire/ Bedfordshire, England, and died November 11, 1693 in Charles Co, MD. He wed MARY CAUSINE January 02, 1650/51 in St. Marys Co, MD. She was born March 09, 1630/31 in Charles Co, MD, and died January 09, 1693/94 in Charles Co, MD.
- 1607-The first encounter between European settlers and Native Americans. Capt. John Smith discovered Moysenec, a settlement of the Chickahominy Tribe that is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is an important archeological site.
- 1631-John Wheeler was born in England. In a deposition made, 1/22/1652 , he gave his age as 21 years. In another, 10/22/1691, he gave his age as 61 years.
- 1644-The history of New Kent County begins long before the county was settled in 1644 and incorporated a decade later. The region was a thriving confederacy of Indian tribes ruled over by Chief Powhatan and later by his brother, Opechannough. A series of encounters followed, some peaceful and some violent. A peace treaty was signed in 1644, but not before countless battles occurred and two Indian massacres in 1622 and 1644 left hundreds of settlers dead. New Kent County has a history of survival and determination, from the followers of Nathaniel Bacon who rebelled against the English in the town of Brickhouse, to the soldiers who marched to battle on New Kent's roads.
- 1654-New Kent County was formed from York and parts of James City counties. The county is located between Richmond and Williamsburg, VA. New Kent County, was named either for the English county of Kent or for Kent Island, in the upper waters of the Chesapeake Bay. William Claiborne, a native of Kent who had been driven from Kent Island by Lord Baltimore, was a prominent resident of the New Kent area when the county was formed. (Source: "The Hornbook of Virginia History") Blisland Parish 1654, also James City County.
- 1655-Stratton Major 1655-1691, afterward King and Queen County.
- 1657- Maryland Land Records: "Robert Cole demandeth 450 of land for the servants, Robert Gates 1655, John Johnson, Mary Miles and Joseph Alvey, by special warrant from his Lordship 100 acres and 100 more by assignment from John Wheeler.
- 1659-He was transported to America on the ship, Richard owned by Richard Major.
- Richard Major, was granted 350 acres in New Kent Co, VA, April 29, 1659, p. 266 (367), for transporting seven persons to America. The land was on the N. side of Yorke River. The persons transported were Jone (John) Cooke, John Wheler (Wheeler), Jno. (John) Drumon (Drummond), Mary Rigby, Mary Butler, Thomas Goldsmith, and Mary Harris (Morris). It was customary to give a ship's captain 50 acres for each new immigrant he brought to America. Renewed Feb 9, 1663.
- Emigration: 1659, Came from England to VA, on same boat as John Drummond, ship called 'Richard'.
- Military service: 1676, commissioned Captain of Militia
- Military service #2: Bet. 1680 - 1684, Major of the Infantry of Charles Co, Province of MD
- Religion: Roman Catholic
- Served: 1685, Justice of Charles Co. and served as Commissioner of Port towns
- There is no proof that John Wheeler is a direct ancestor but the fact that John Drummond was on the same ship would lend one to the belief that the Drummond name originated from the marriage of a male Wheeler descendant and a female Drummond descendant. The Drummond name appears many generation of Wheelers. It is an unusual Christian name. Drummond could also be the the maiden name of a Wheeler's wife. There are records on a Drummond Wheeler and his descendants who were born in VA and lived in TN and MS. John Wheeler and John Drummond were probably Cavaliers from England. A Cavalier was one who had become discouraged with the British Government and was awaiting the restoration of Charles II to the British throne. Charles II lost control over disputes between the Catholics and Anglicans.
- 1663-The Wheeler family goes back to the early history of Maryland where John Wheeler obtained a patent on July 10, 1663 for 4000 acres of land, known as "Wheeler's Choice", in Charles Co. For his services as Captain, he was at one time granted 2000 lbs. of Tobacco.
- 1670-Son, William Wheeler was born in VA, but some have him being born in 1658 in MD.
- 1674-St Stephen's Parish before 1674-1691, afterward King and Queen County.
- 1679-St Peter's Parish
- 1680-St John's 1680-1691 (afterwards, King and Queen then King William)
- 1691-New Kent became county seat. New Kent County, was formed in 1654 and reduced in size in 1691, with the formation of King and Queen County. (Source: "Virginia, A Guide to the Old Dominion")
- 1693-He made his Will in Charles Co, MD on 11/11/1693. Burial: November 1693
- 1694-His Will was proved on 1/8/1694 in Charles Co, MD. In it he mentions property, "Planter's Delight", Mayor's Choice", "Middleton's Lot", "Wheeler's Purchase", and "Wheeler's Delight." At Charles Co, MD, August court, Mary Wheeler is named as his widow. His children are named in the Charles Co. Land Records.
- 1701-St Peter's Church built. George and Martha Washington frequently attended service there, as the home of one of the oldest congregations in VA. Rev. David Mossom, the pastor who baptized Martha and presided over both of her weddings, is buried in the northeast corner of the church's interior. (Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch newspaper article written on April 14 , 1998 by Charles Gerena)
- 1704-St Paul's 1704-17 Wheeler dies 6/6/1738, in Baltimore Co., MD. This is the date his Will was probated.
- 1738-Son, William Wheeler[citation needed]
- 1787-The Colonial Records of New Kent County were destroyed by a fire, which was set by John Price Posey, for which he was hung. It was the greatest loss suffered because the early records of many counties were in the New Kent Clerk's Office. Lost were King and Queen, 1654-1691; King William County, 1654-1702; Hanover County, 1654-1728; Louisa County, 1654 to 1728; and part of Caroline County, 1654 to 1720. The records for New Kent between 1787 and 1864 were burned at the time the village of New Kent Courthouse suffered a disastrous fire. The records for New Kent since 1864 are intact and are in good condition.
- Lesa Pfrommer has death date as 9 JAN 1693/94 in All Hallows, Anne Arundel County, Maryland and Immigration date, before 29 APR 1659 to America.
- CHILDREN
- Francis Wheeler b: 1672 in Charles County, MD Not in list of births above
- John Wheeler , Jr. b: 1654 in Charles County, MD Not mentioned in father's will.
- James Wheeler b: 16 DEC 1656 in Charles County, MD
- Mary Wheeler b: 22 MAR 1658 in Charles County, MD
- Thomas Wheeler b: 18 MAR 1660 in Charles County, MD
- Winifred Wheeler b: MAR 1663 Married John Speake.
- Ignatius Wheeler b: MAY 1665 in Charles County, MD
Disputed Information MARY CAUSINE
- Various profiles such as those on Ancestry.com, show Mary's surname to be CAUSINE or show Mary Causine as wife of John Wheeler, born 9 Mar 1631 in Charles, Maryland, dau of Nicholas Causine (b: ABT 1608 in France) and Unknown mother (b: ABT 1612 in England).
- Her father transported himself to America in 1639, married in 1644, so he could not have been the father of Mary Wheeler, born in 1630 in Maryland or England.
- Also records show that this Nicolas had 2 sons, Ignatius and Nicolas Jr. and no daughters. From Maryland State Archives.
- Per Lesa Pfrommer has Mary WHEELER born Mar 09 1631, Of, Charles County, Maryland; died After 1694 , Charles Co, MD
- From Mary Anderson: I understand that he came from England on a ship called the Dove (sailed about the same time as the Ark which was a supply ship). John Wheeler left England in 1651, shortly after Comwell beheaded King Charles. It is thought he left to avoid the persecution of Catholics. He arrived in Maryland in January, 1652, from London. Walter V. Ball: "John Wheeler, 1630-1693, of Charles County, Maryland, and Some of His Descendents", published privately by the author in Chevy Chase, MD in December 1966. Copy in Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, VA.
- WILL: Wheeler, John, Chas. Co., 11th Nov., 1693; Probate 9th Jan., 1694 /To son Thomas and hrs., 200 A. (unnamed) on which he now lives, and 23 0 A., "Wheeler's Rest." /To wife Mary, extx., 600 A., "Planter's Delight" and all personalty ./To son Ignatius and hrs., sd. "Planter's Delight" at death of wife at is d./To son Francis and hrs., 187 A., "Major's Choice," and 96 A., "Middleton's Lot."/To grandson, John Wheeler, son of dec'd son James, 200 A., part of 50 0 A., "Wheeler's Purchase"./To grandson James, son of sd. dec'd son James, 200 A., part of "Wheeler's Purchase."/To granddau. Ann Wheeler, dau. of sd. dec'd son James, 100 A., residue of "Wheeler's Purchase"./To granddau. Ann 165 A., "Wheeler's Delight." /To grandson Richard, son of son Thomas afsd., and his hrs., "Wheeler' s Delight" in event of death of granddau. Ann afsd. without issue. Test: Jno. Sanders, Wm. Montgomery, Anna Montgomery.
John Wheeler, progenitor, came to Mayland C. 1659, and was captain of the Charles County Militia in 1676, major in 1689, and was Justice of the County Court in 1689
SOURCES referenced in Walter Ball's "The Wheeler Family"
- As far as I have been able to find out this is the first time the actual date of John Wheeler's immigration (1652) has ever been proved. Some errors in the Wheeler family history have been published and there may be errors in this book but I have tried hard to avoid them. Any claims I have made on circumstantial evidence were qualified and are subject to correction.
- Publications cited in this book and available to the public are;
- The Wheeler Family In America by A. G. Wheeler,
- The Semmes Manuscripts on Wheeler by R. T. Semmes,
- The Raskob-KJreen Record Book by John J.Raskob,
- The Maryland Semmes and Kindred Families by H. W. Newman,
- The Butterworth Family of Maryland by Walter V. Ball,
- The Hawkins-Sheetz-Yates and Wheeler Families by Lela W. Prewitt
- The Wheeler Family Chart by A. Alexis Raphel, the latter being available in the Md. Historical Society Library, Baltimore, Md*
SOURCES:
- Ball, Walter V. The Wheeler Family of Maryland. Maryland Historical Society. 1966. https://www.worldcat.org/title/wheeler-family-of-charles-county-maryland-/oclc/5432906
- Herndon, John Goodwin, Robert Middleton of Maryland and Numerous of His Descendants, Wickersham Printing Company, 11 1 East Chestnut Street Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1954. Pg 10, 11. https://archive.org/details/robertmiddletoncOOhern
- Wheeler, Albert G. Jr. Editor. Genealogical and Encyclopedic History of The Wheeler Family in America. Pages 1318. Published by American College of Genealogy. Boston, Mass. 1914..P 519-536.https://archive.org/details/genealogicalency00amer
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